本集内容

End of the line for the VW Beetle? 大众 “甲壳虫” 汽车可能停产

学习要点

有关 “design 设计” 的词汇

边看边答

Which film increased the VW Beetle's popularity in the 1960s?

文字稿

It's the end of the line for the 'Bug'. VW says it will stop making its much-loved Beetle next July. The car's been through many incarnations over the years with new modern designs replacing the iconic version seen here. Now though, the company will stop producing the car altogether. It's left Beetle lovers heartbroken.

德国大众汽车 “甲壳虫” 系列即将退出历史舞台。大众汽车公司称，这款备受喜爱的车型将于明年七月停产。多年来，该公司推出了多代 “甲壳虫” 车型，新的现代设计不断替代了这一经典名款。不过现在，该公司将彻底停止生产这一系列。这让 “甲壳虫” 车爱好者们伤心不已。

Pathé announcer
After an official speech by Hitler, the curtains roll back on Germany's motor show.

百代电影公司播音员
“在希特勒发表正式演说后，德国车展拉开帷幕。”

The car was originally created in 1938, on Adolf Hitler's orders. He wanted a cheap, reliable, people's car. But by the freewheeling 60s, it found fame with the Disney film, The Love Bug. Its funky designs and cheap price making it a firm favourite.

该车最初于1938年在阿道夫·希特勒的命令下制造出厂。当时他想要一款便宜、可靠，且 “属于人们的车”。但到了无拘无束的六十年代，它凭借一部名为《万能金龟车》的迪士尼电影而名声大振。它新潮的设计和便宜的价格赢得了人们长久以来的喜爱。

But, despite being one of the best-selling cars of all time, sales have fallen in recent years.

但尽管它是有史以来最畅销的车型之一，其销售量在近年来有所下降。

The company's trying to move forward after the diesel emissions scandal and looking towards new technology. Some argue any remaining Beetle magic died 15 years ago when the rear-engine model stopped being made.

自大众集团的柴油排放丑闻以来，该公司就试图向未来发展并放眼新技术。有些人认为 “甲壳虫” 汽车仅存的魅力早在十五年前其后置发动机模型停产时就消失了。

Keith Martin, Editor, Sports Car Market magazine
The world is changing very quickly. Manufacturers are all moving to electric platforms for their cars. This is an archaic, outmoded platform with an old motor in it. VW has got to move into the future.

基斯·马丁 《跑车市场》杂志总编
“世界变化很快。制造汽车商都在向电动平台转型。而“甲壳虫”使用的柴油平台早已陈旧、过时，还装有旧式马达。大众汽车必须迈向未来。”

But it may not be the end of the road for ever with some suggesting a new electric version might one day be made. So perhaps it's farewell, rather than goodbye for this old friend.

但这可能并不是该车的最终宿命，有些人透露，有一天也许会推出电动版“甲壳虫”。所以，我们也许只需对这个老朋友说句“再见”，而不是“永别”。

词汇

incarnations 同款车型的不同设计

iconic version 经典名款

rear-engine model 后置发动机模型

archaic 陈旧的

outmoded 过时的

你知道吗？

The Volkswagen Type 1 has many unofficial nicknames worldwide. It's known as 'Beetle' or 'Bug' in the UK and USA, 'Coccinelle' – ladybird - in France, 'Peta' – turtle - in Bolivia and 'Kodok' - frog in Indonesia.

大众1型在世界各地有很多非正式的昵称。在英美，人们把它称为 “甲壳虫” 或 “小虫子”；在法国，它叫作 “Coccinelle 瓢虫”；在玻利维亚，它叫 “Peta 乌龟”；而在印度尼西亚，人们叫它 “Kodok 青蛙”。 

问题答案

The Disney film, The Love Bug increased the VW Beetle's popularity in the 1960s.