If I were a car, I’d be a Beetle.

Automobile manufacturers! Do this!
First a bit about my car and my thrifty background. The most fun I ever had driving any vehicle was back in my college years living in Los Angeles. Spring 1967 up to my first real job in 1969. Driving a car by the seat of the pants and mostly hands on. I felt one with the car and I’m certain it loved me back.
None the less, the early builder of this car called it a “people’s car or as most had named it, the Beetle or the VW Bug.” Yes a VW beetle the cool little car whose body shape seldom had changed through the years. The exception was the changing size of the head light and tail light and bumpers. Assembled and sold by Volkswagen of West Germany and a most humble mode of transportation But repeating, most fun to drive. It fit like a glove and was my persona, Demure, frugal, and cheap. But again, most FUN to shift and go.
My first Beetle was a1958 VW Bug with small oval rear window and the flip lever for the reserve gas tank. A function one flips with the right foot and Good luck with that. No onboard gas gage. I often had to reach way down and flip the lever with my hand instead while hoping not to run into a pedestrian or police car. It was a rusty red color that seemed to easily flow into the rusty areas of the car body. The headliner was a bit torn never the less the radio and heater worked just fine. But when too much rust appeared, I decided to paint the beetle black. And I mean paint it myself and in my garage. A garage I shared with an upstairs neighbor. So, I masked off all the windows, windshields front and back, and any chrome trim. Covered the tires and hubcaps and laid newspapers on the ground. Then began to spray. Started with the left front fender, front hood, right front fender, all the roof, passenger door, rear panel, around the rear window, down the engine cover, then the left rear fender, and suddenly ran out of black paint. Well, what to do now? Walked to Sears and bought a can of black spray paint. Finished the driver side door with the can of spray paint. Wheew! The driver’s door looked like a graffiti job gone really bad. So, there it was an Okie paint job that cost me 12-bucks. Drove that car until the breaks failed and got a ticket for not stopping for a pedestrian crosswalk.
My next VW was a 1963 blue Bug which had a gas gage, a good radio, and no tares in the head liner. Drove that beauty up until I started to work in Culver City.
But back to my main point. I would like to see if VW would build the same bug body with the same dimensions as the 1972 beetle. Using some of the same glossy colors as the previous 1960s VWs. However instead of a gas powered four-cylinder engine, replace it with a more powerful electric motor. A complete plug-in and not a hybrid. The empty space behind the rear seat could be fitted with the car’s batteries. And if desired a sound replication device to duplicate the VW’s iconic motor sound. Something like Harley does with it’s electric bikes. Varoom-varoom. Going through the shifting sequences. First, second, third, and maybe fourth gear. I loved how the bug idled. Cachug cachug cachug… I’m sure it could be easily done.
If VW would do this I am almost positive Volkswagen would sell a million. I am just about sure I’m not the only one who loved this distinctive little beetle car. The symbol of pride and austerity. Who needs Beamers and Benzes anyway? They are just road junk. VW Beetles have panache and bravado. If not stupefaction.