Monday 18th April 2011

New 'New' Beetle Revealed...

...and this one isn't just for girls*

---

The new Volkswagen Beetle has been unveiled in China on the eve of the Shanghai motor show.

"The latest generation moves away from design of the New Beetle of 1998 and instead draws on cues from the original and Beetle Ragster concept shown in Detroit in 2005, says a VW press release. "As such it's longer, wider and lower, giving a more masculine and dynamic appearance."

The most noticeable difference perhaps, is a glasshouse/roof section that's all been moved towards the rear of the car - so the newcomer looks a little less 'toytown' than its predecessor which didn't know whether it was coming or going.

In the UK, a choice of four engines will be offered: three petrol - a 1.2-litre TSI 104 bhp, a 1.4-litre TSI 158bhp and a 2.0-litre TSI 198bhp; and one diesel - a 1.6-litre 105 PS with BlueMotion Technology. The top of the range petrol will do 129mph, we're advised.

Sales start in 2012, but you'll be able to order the car this summer should the pictures inspire you.

(*We know the old one wasn't just for girls.)

Update:
Unlike the old 'new' Beetle, the new 'new' Beetle is intended as a much more sporty proposition. We grabbed a few quick words with the car's designer, Marc Lichte, for his take on exactly why.

"The last 'new' Beetle had a very striking graphic, but its three semi-circle profile meant that the dash was really long, and this did not make for a very sporty drive.

"With the new car we have a much more upright a-pillar and a much shorter dashboard - the shortest of any VW group car, in fact - and as well as evoking the spirit of the original Beetle it makes for a much more sporting driving experience. I've driven it a few times now and I can genuinely say that it seems to me to be even more sporty than the Scirocco.

"it's also much more practical - the shape allows room for four tall adults to fit inside in comfort."

Which is nice to know, but if it's so sporty we wondered if there was any chance of anything hotter than the current 198bhp range-topper.

"There are many possibilities," says Marc. "We have a lot of ideas, and don't forget that the underpinnings of the car are based on the VW Group PQ35 platform - the same as the current Golf and the Audi TT."

But Lichte is also keen to point out that the Beetle shouldn't need a high-output engine to be fun to drive: "Just like with the Scirocco, it makes the best possible use of the performance it has got."

[Not Ideal]

Not for me but massive improvement on the last 'New' Beetle.

[the fury]

WTF?! No little vase for a flower?!

[Shaw Tarse]

http://tinyurl.com/noobeetle

[RJDM3]

Typical VW boring interior fitted with an even uglier body than the previous version. Well done VW

[DanB7290]

I rather like it, massive improvement on the old one

[Mitchmachine]

Flogging a dead horse with this. Doesn't have enough retro style appeal for the 500 and mini lovers and won't be taken seriously enough by potential Golf converts. Can't see it selling that well.

[Mr Gear]

"As such it's longer, wider and lower, giving a more ..."

huge and heavy appearance.

[ImDesigner]

RJDM3 said:

Typical VW boring interior

What's boring about it? That's a genuine question. To me, most new car interiors look like a nice place to sit.

[Evil.soup]

RJDM3 said:

Typical VW boring interior fitted with an even uglier body than the previous version. Well done VW

I think it looks ok, maybe even more sofisticated than the previous model, but isnt that getting away from what it is about in the first place??

I have to agree with you though, VW are making more and more bland cars these days. I dont mind base model cars lacking a little luster but even the Golf Gti and R are both about as exciting as a health and safety course!

[Mafioso]

198bhp and only 129mph?

[MrGeoff]

This is an improvement on the old one but does anyone else think the rear shot is very similar to the Scirocco?

[RJDM3]

ImDesigner said:

What's boring about it? That's a genuine question. To me, most new car interiors look like a nice place to sit.

Because it looks like everything else in the VW range.

Very little charcter difference on the interior between models.

[ZOLLAR]

As said in the other "new beetle" thread...


I think that's quite good actually, It wouldn't be my first choice but I wouldn't laugh at a friend if he got one.
I'm glad they sorted the back end out, never liked the rear of the old one.
The new rear end seems to "flow" nicely.

[W00DY]

To me it looks much worse. It's like they've tried to give it a sporty look, but toned it down too much instead of having the balls to p[roduce something interesting.

The roof-line is awful, if it looked more like the Ragster it would be much nicer.

[Cotty]

Mafioso said:

198bhp and only 129mph?

"As such it's longer, wider and lower"

They made it heavier

[tvr123456789]

very nice VW, i'd prefe if you put on some bodykits

[mister.t]

Article said:

In the UK, a choice of four engines will be offered: 2.0-litre TSI 198bhp. The top of the range petrol will do 129mph, we're advised.

Is that a typo? A standard R56 MINI Cooper with 1.6 N/A 122bhp claims 126mph.

Still doesn't do it for me, but that could be bias from someone who has a MINI

[Beefmeister]

Some more pics from my other thread:

[anonymous-user]

mister.t said:

Is that a typo? A standard R56 MINI Cooper with 1.6 N/A 122bhp claims 126mph.

The MINI Cooper only has 122bhp? I thought it was much more

[paranoid airbag]

first time I've used this

truly fugly and irredeemably awful. Presumably modified to use the newer golf chassis?