Volkswagen Introduces all new Beetle for 2012
What is the first car that comes to mind when somebody mentions Volkswagen? If you happen to be over the age of 40, your answer will most likely be the Beetle. Also referred to as the “Bug,’’ this iconic nameplate belongs to one of the most beloved cars ever produced. The Beetle is quite literally the defining symbol of this German auto manufacturer.
Over 21 million original Beetles were sold from the car’s rather dark beginnings in Nazi Germany until the last one rolled off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico in 2003. When the VW Beetle was discontinued in the US market in 1979, millions of enthusiasts, including many who grew up with this rather odd-looking car, were quite devastated. For the next 19 years, the US was without a Beetle and as a result, Volkswagen sales experienced quite the rollercoaster ride. By 1993, less than 50,000 Volkswagens rolled out of showrooms. Two decades earlier, annual sales were around half a million units.
Just as the German automaker was seriously considering abandoning the US market, a brilliant team of designers in California came up with a most interesting prototype. Dubbed Concept One, it was a redesigned Beetle with modern amenities. Volkswagen was desperate. Could a revival of the Beetle save the company in the US? The answer was yes. In 1994, the Concept One was shown to the public and took the automotive press by storm.
By 1998, the New Beetle was released to the public and for the following three years, Volkswagen enjoyed their best sales years in the US since the early 1970s. However, this version of the Beetle existed in different times. Thanks to far more competition and modern auto industry standards of shorter model production runs, the novelty of this reincarnated version of the classic “Bug” wore off. As a result, New Beetle sales slowed and production of this car ceased with the 2010 model year.
Many die-hard Beetle aficionados felt cheated once again. In light of the fact that a limited number of “Final Edition” New Beetles were built, a sizable portion of Bugophiles assumed this signified the end of the road for this legendary nameplate. Others, however, believed the Beetle would live on. And they were right.
It took over 30 years, but the German automaker finally realized how much the Beetle means to those in the Volkswagen community. In fact, when the VW brass unveiled the all-new 2012 Beetle on April 18, 2011, it was noted that those who drive Beetles are very special and that the company was committed to staying connected with them. It was also stated that the Beetle was avery important elementin the company’s future in America.
The first fact about this latest version is that the “New” moniker has been dropped and it will simply be called the Beetle, just as it was during its glory years. As for styling, the roofline has been flattened while the rear is more sloped than the outgoing model. The result is aBeetlethat more closely resembles the early air-cooled models. A very noticeable difference you’ll see is the taillights. Instead of being round, they are now horizontally rectangular in shape with rounded edges. This may take some getting used to.
The interior has been completely updated but manages to hold retro cues as well. Sorry, folks: The bud vase is gone this time. One can readily assume that VW is seeking a more masculine look, because the New Beetles of 1998-2010 were often labeled by critics as “chick cars.”
Engine choices include the gasoline-motivated 2.5 liter 5-cylinder producing 170 horsepower, a 2.0T turbo with 200 horsepower, and a clean diesel with just 140 horsepower but 236 foot-pounds of torque. Transmissions include either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic for the 2.5 and either a 6-speed manual or DSG ( a more advanced, variable automatic) for the diesel and turbo models. Standard wheel sizes have grown from 16 inches to 17 inches. Disk brakes at all four wheels are now standard. A convertible is expected to arrive in 2013.
Prices are expected to range from about $20,000-$30,000, depending on options. The latest Beetle is an awesome-looking tribute to the classic Bugs of years past, and the overall response thus far is very positive.
And the best news of all?
It would seem that Volkswagen has finally learned that killing this classic and beloved nameplate the first time around back in 1979 was the biggest mistake they ever made.
