Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Wave Concept

The Beetle has been an almost continuous thread through Volkswagen's history in America, beginning with the first Volkswagens to arrive in 1949 and continuing through the New Beetle and the current generation car. New York has been tied in with that history, too. The first two Beetle vehicles were shipped to the U.S. via New York, VWoA's first headquarters was in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and the current Beetle made its debut at the New York Show in 2011.

Volkswagen is showing four Beetle concepts at the 2015 New York Auto Show, all of which pay homage to the Beetle's past while providing a glimpse at a possible future direction for the vehicle. There are two coupes and two convertibles, all of which could make it into production in the near future.

The concept car Beetle Wave in "Habanero Orange Metallic" reflects the American spirit on the East and West coast beaches of the USA. This spirit is also expressed in the convertible's interior. Fabric patterns from the 1950s and 60s influence the design of the center seat panels, and there is a genuine wood dashpad that is designed in traditional surfboard style.

Beetle Convertible Wave Concept

The Beetle Convertible Wave is designed to enjoy the summer, whether in the Hamptons or in Santa Monica. This particular convertible is painted in Habanero Orange Metallic, a spicy
color that is offset by bright Tornado 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and chromed door mirrors.

Beetle Convertible Wave Concept

Inside the car, technology and contemporary design merge with iconic styling elements such as the seating inserts in a classic houndstooth pattern that harkens back to high-end fashion and vehicles of the 1950s and 1960s. Visually, the seats complement the genuine wood dashpad that was designed in the style of a traditional surfboard. The Beetle Convertible Wave is still a concept car, but vehicles like the Beetle Dune that was shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2014 demonstrate how Volkswagen can create production models from such concepts very rapidly. The Dune will arrive in dealer showrooms in early 2016.