End of the line for the VW Beetle? 大眾 “甲殼蟲” 汽車可能停產

本集內容

學習要點

有關 “design 設計” 的詞匯

邊看邊答

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.

德國大眾汽車 “甲殼蟲” 系列即將退出歷史舞臺。大眾汽車公司稱，這款備受喜愛的車型將於明年七月停產。多年來，該公司推出瞭多代 “甲殼蟲” 車型，新的現代設計不斷替代瞭這一經典名款。不過現在，該公司將徹底停止生產這一系列。這讓 “甲殼蟲” 車愛好者們傷心不已。

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

百代電影公司播音員
“在希特勒發表正式演說後，德國車展拉開帷幕。”

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.

該車最初於1938年在阿道夫·希特勒的命令下制造出廠。當時他想要一款便宜、可靠，且 “屬於人們的車”。但到瞭無拘無束的六十年代，它憑借一部名為《萬能金龜車》的迪士尼電影而名聲大振。它新潮的設計和便宜的價格贏得瞭人們長久以來的喜愛。

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

但盡管它是有史以來最暢銷的車型之一，其銷售量在近年來有所下降。

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.

自大眾集團的柴油排放醜聞以來，該公司就試圖向未來發展並放眼新技術。有些人認為 “甲殼蟲” 汽車僅存的魅力早在十五年前其後置發動機模型停產時就消失瞭。

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·馬丁《跑車市場》雜志總編
“世界變化很快。制造汽車商都在向電動平臺轉型。而“甲殼蟲”使用的柴油平臺早已陳舊、過時，還裝有舊式馬達。大眾汽車必須邁向未來。”

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.

但這可能並不是該車的最終宿命，有些人透露，有一天也許會推出電動版“甲殼蟲”。所以，我們也許隻需對這個老朋友說句“再見”，而不是“永別”。

詞匯

incarnations 同款車型的不同設計

iconic version 經典名款

rear-engine model 後置發動機模型

archaic 陳舊的

outmoded 過時的

你知道嗎？

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.

大眾1型在世界各地有很多非正式的昵稱。在英美，人們把它稱為 “甲殼蟲” 或 “小蟲子”；在法國，它叫作 “Coccinelle 瓢蟲”；在玻利維亞，它叫 “Peta 烏龜”；而在印度尼西亞，人們叫它 “Kodok 青蛙”。