Volkswagen Beetle to be revived as an electric car for a movie

A bright red concept car in a new French children’s film could provide the best glimpse yet of what to expect from an electric Volkswagen Beetle – if it makes it to showrooms rather than movie screens.

The Volkswagen Beetle – one of the most iconic and best-selling cars in the world – could be revived with electric power, if the German automotive giant turns a new movie car into reality.

Volkswagen has collaborated with the makers of a new French animated film – titled Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir, The Movie – to showcase its electric concept cars in the children’s movie, due to be released overseas later this month.

In a poster for the film promoted by Volkswagen, the lead characters are standing in front of the German brand’s previous electric concept cars – such as the ID.Buzz, ID.Crozz and ID.Vizzion – while the protagonist (Ladybug) is next to a red Beetle-shaped concept.

A media statement, Volkswagen UK referred to the red vehicle as a “concept car electric Beetle”, rather than an ID-family name from its existing concept car range.

While this is not necessarily proof that the Volkswagen Beetle will return as an electric car, the three other concepts have been announced as production models – as the ID. Buzz, ID.4 (ID.Crozz) and ID.7 (ID.Vizzion/ID.Aero) – since they were initially unveiled.

A real-world version of the concept car has also been spotted on the streets of Paris by YouTube channel Paris Videostars.

The concept car appears to be little more than a promotional tool for the upcoming film, with painted-on front and rear lights, doors and windows.

The original Volkswagen Beetle remains as the record holder for the longest production run (65 years, 1938-2003) and the most examples produced (approximately 21.5 million) of a single model generation.

While Volkswagen attempted to capitalise on the nameplate’s popularity with the Golf-based ‘New Beetle’ (1997-2011) and the ‘A5-generation’ Beetle (2011-2019), neither could replicate the original model’s success.

The idea of a Volkswagen Beetle with electric power is also not new.

The original Volkswagen Beetle holds the record for the most examples of a car produced across a single generation

In November 2017, then-Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess hinted at the nameplate going electric – which he reiterated in February 2022 by saying the Beetle could be one of the brand’s battery-powered models, following the revival of the Kombi bus as the ID.Buzz.

“I am very excited about the launch of the ID Buzz and, from this experience, learn how we can bring our traditional and emotional world to the electric vehicle sector, thinking of the Beetle,” Mr Diess told Spanish news site HibridosyElectricos.

As previously reported, Volkswagen plans to launch at least 10 electric cars by 2026, though this is understood to include its existing models.

The post Volkswagen Beetle to be revived as an electric car – for a movie appeared first on Drive.