Volkswagen Beetle (A5)

Volkswagen Beetle
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (US)
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Also called	Volkswagen Coccinelle (France) Volkswagen Maggiolino (Italy) Volkswagen Fusca (Brazil)
Production	2011–present
Assembly	Puebla City, Mexico
Designer	Walter de Silva Marc Lichte
Body and chassis
Class	Compact car (C)
Body style	3-door coupe 2-door convertible
Layout	front engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform
Related	Volkswagen Golf Mk6
Powertrain
Engine	petrol engines: 1.2 L I4 TSI 1.4 L I4 16 valve TSI 1.8 L I4 16 valve TSI 2.0 L I4 16 valve TSI 2.5 L I5 20 valve diesel engines: 1.6 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed DSG
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,537 mm (99.9 in)
Length	4,278 mm (168.4 in)
Width	1,808 mm (71.2 in)
Height	1,486 mm (58.5 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Volkswagen New Beetle

The Volkswagen Beetle (also sold as the Volkswagen Coccinelle, Volkswagen Maggiolino, Volkswagen Fusca in some countries) is a compact car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen introduced in 2011 for the 2012 model year, as the successor to the New Beetle launched in 1997. It features a lower profile while retaining an overall shape recalling the original Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle.

One of Volkswagen's goals with the model was to give it a more aggressive appearance while giving it some stylistic aspects reminiscent of the Beetle's design.^[1][2] This was an attempt to distance the new model from the Volkswagen New Beetle, produced from 1997 to 2011, which never approached the success of the first Beetle.^[3]

The second generation "new" Beetle shares the "A5" (PQ35) platform with the current Volkswagen Jetta and is built alongside the Jetta, Golf Variant and the old Jetta ("Clásico") at Volkswagen's plant in Puebla, Mexico.^[4] It is longer than the previous New Beetle (now 4,278 mm (168.4 in) and also has a lower profile, 12 mm (0.5 in) lower than its predecessor, and 88 mm (3.5 in) wider. The trunk is now 310 L (11 cu ft), up from 209 L (7.4 cu ft).

A convertible version followed the coupé for the 2013 model year, first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2012 when it also went on sale.^[5] A performance version, called Beetle R, is projected to follow later.^[6]

Launch

Beetle 1.4 TSI Sport rear

On 22 November 2010, on the final episode of the Oprah's Favorite Things special, Oprah Winfrey and Volkswagen announced every audience member that day would receive one of the Beetles upon its release in 2011. VW staff gave the audience their special keys to the car.^[7] This was followed by a teaser commercial during Super Bowl XLV in February 2011.

To celebrate the global reveal, VW partnered with MTV, to make a debut on three continents on 18 April. The reveal began in Shanghai, China with a MTV Sound System celebration hosted by MTV VJs, followed by MTV World Stage events in Berlin and New York City.^[8]

On 18 April 2011, the 2012 model was unveiled as the Volkswagen Beetle, dropping the word "New" from its name. It debuted at Auto Shanghai and the New York Auto Show.

During the marketing campaign at Mexico, it was advertised as "The new Vocho" (oddly in English) in the "Das Auto" marketing campaign.

Engines

The new model retains the front-engine, front-wheel drive layout of the New Beetle, while improving interior packaging with more room in the rear.^[9] Four-cylinder engine options for the European market are expected to include 1.2-litre (77 kW (105 PS; 103 bhp)), 1.4-litre (118 kW (160 PS; 158 bhp)) and 2.0-litre (147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp)) TSI petrol engines, and 1.6-litre (78 kW (106 PS; 105 bhp)) and 2.0-litre (103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp)) TDI diesel engines. In addition to the 2.0-litre TSI and TDI engines, base North American Beetles were originally fitted with an upgraded (125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp)) straight-five engine (engine code CBTA/CBUA) earlier used on the Golf and Jetta.^[4][9][10] From 2015 onward, the 2.5L straight-five was phased out in favor of a 1.8L four-cylinder TSI of comparable horsepower ratings but improved torque ratings over the straight-five.

All engines for this model are offered with an option of a six-speed manual transmission or the option of a dual-clutch DSG automatic. In the United States, transmissions on petrol models come with either a five-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic on 2.5/1.8T models, while on the diesel models there is the option of a DSG six-speed dual-clutch transmission.^[10]

VW Beetle Turbo Black

Special editions

Interior

The first special edition of the 2012 Beetle is the Black Turbo launch edition. It was limited to 600 cars on the U.S. market and will be the first car available through Volkswagen’s new Vehicle Pre-Order program.^[11]

A Beetle Turbo Black made an appearance at the 30th annual Wörthersee Treffen in June 2011 in Reifnitz, Austria. It was located on the floating barge showcase at the entrance to the show. Other cars on the barge included a Reifnitz Edition GTI and the Touareg Racer. A heavily modified in-house electric-powered Beetle, called E-Bugster, was unveiled at 2012 North American International Auto Show.^[12] Unlike other new Beetles, the E-Bugster is a two-seater instead of 2+2.

In 2012 an official Fender Edition was released.^[13]

In January 2013 an official Xbox special edition was released. It uses the straight-five 2.5 L (170 HP) and comes in three different colors: Black, White and Silver all of them with the characteristic Xbox colors, panoramic sunroof, rear spoiler and 18" rims. This special edition will only be available for the Mexican market.^[14]

In February 2013 Volkswagen introduced the Beetle GSR Limited Edition. It is painted in yellow and black and only 3,500 will be produced, half of which will be sold in the United States, the other half in Europe. This special edition is modeled after the original 1973 special edition Super Beetle dubbed the GSR or, Gelb Schwarz Renner, Yellow Black Racer in English. The new GSR comes with Volkswagens new 2.0l turbo four cylinder, this time making an extra 10 horsepower for a total of 210.

R-Line. Volkswagen has started production of a new R-Line Beetle. This new, limited edition trim level comes equipped with the new 210 hp gen3 turbo four, new front fascia and a metal dash plate finished off with r badging all around. Along with increased performance, the new engine is expected to get about 8% greater fuel economy, or around 1–2 more miles per gallon. The engine will be fitted to all Volkswagens that currently use the gen2 2.0l turbo four.^[15]

References

1. "2012 VW Beetle Turbo Review". Automoblog.net. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
2. Lim, Anthony (18 April 2011). "Volkswagen Beetle – new generation bug makes debut". paultan.org. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
3. English, Andrew (15 August 2011). "Volkswagen Beetle review". The Daily Telegraph (London).
4. Spy Shots: First photos of 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle, accessdate 2010-1231
5. Garrett, Jerry (28 November 2012). "Volkswagen Beetle Convertible: Never a Dull Moment". New York Times.
6. "Volkswagen Beetle Convertible And Beetle R Coming Next Year: Report". Motor Authority. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
7. "Oprah's Favorite Thing: Free 2012 Volkswagen New Beetles for All". TheCarConnection. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
8. "Volkswagen to Reveal the 21st Century Beetle on Three Continents – Auto News, Reviews, Specification, Price and Car Pictures on". Gotbroken.com. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
9. "New Beetle spied almost undisguised". Autoexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
10. Official VW Beetle Blog, VW Beetle Feature Gallery.
11. "Volkswagen takes the wraps off of the first special edition of its 2012 Beetle.". europeancarnews.com. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
12. "E-BUGSTER CONCEPT MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT 2012 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW". Media.vw.com. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
13. "Beetle". Beetle. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
14. "The Beetle Edición Limitada Xbox". Retrieved 4 October 2014.
15. "Volkswagen presents the Beetle GSR Limited Edition in Chicago". AutoMonthly.pt. Retrieved 9 February 2013.

External links

• Official Beetle website at Volkswagen.com