Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the newest third-generation Volkswagen Beetle that was unpacked today before its world premiere at the Auto Expo 2011 in Shanghai and New York Auto Show. The final interpretation of the ruling comes 73 years after launching the original Beetle in 1938, which sold a staggering 21.5 million units, and 13 years after the beginning of the New Beetle in 1998, which managed to sell just over 1 million units until production ended in 2010.
When it goes on sale in North America and Europe in the fall of 2011, and the world by early 2012, the latest model to be known simply as "Beetle" Volkswagen has dropped the 'new' name of the car.
If someone has asked for a summary of the 2012 Beetle in a nutshell, it would be: bigger, more mature and unisex. From design, the goal was to make the VW Beetle called Century 21 for both sexes. As a result, VW's chief designer Walter de Silva and his team has offered low Beetle nastier people and look for clues is based on the concept shown in Detroit Ragster Beetle in 2005. The general style is much less onion and more chiseled compared with the New Beetle, while maintaining the retro atmosphere of the series.
The same goes for interior design, with Volkswagen down the "cute" features of its predecessor, as the "Bud Vase" signs mounted on the dashboard. The highlights are available in less steering wheel plane, the additional drive cabinet integrated into the dash panel, front cover folds, while the standard smoke hood, which opens downwards, optional additional instruments above the center console with audio integrated navigation systems, with 5 inches or 6.5 inches. Alternatively, VW offers a panoramic sunroof, which is said to be 80 percent higher than the previous model.
In 2012, the Beetle has grown in size and now measures 4278 mm in length (152 mm), 1808 mm wide (84 mm) and a height of 1486 (-12 mm). The track and back, and a wheelbase of 2537 mm, is also increased over its predecessor and promises to offer more interior space. In addition, the boot capacity of 310 liters, as against 209 liters in 1998-model, while all versions come with a split rear seat time in the back for versatility improved.
Like its predecessor, the Beetle has a front engine mounting, front-wheel drive configuration. By region, the past mistakes will be offered with a range of diesel and gasoline.
United States, including the options of engines, a 2.0-liter TDI turbo diesel with 140hp and a six-speed manual gearbox or 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which returns in the cycle of 40mpg highway , 29mpg in city driving and 33mpg combined.
The petrol range includes VW-than-assumed-archaic 2.5-liter five-cylinder with 170 hp. The manual is 22 mpg (city) 31 mpg (highway) and 25 mpg (combined), while its counterpart in a 6-speed automatic transmission achieves 22 mpg (city) 29 mpg (highway) and 25 mpg () combined .
Finally, U.S. buyers choose a 2.0 liter TSI unit with 200hp turbocharged gasoline and a fuel economy of 25 mpg. It comes with a 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed DSG.
If the rest of the world, including Asia, Australia, Europe and New Zealand, the New Beetle is offered only to turbocharged four-cylinder, all of which are used for the first time in the Beetle.
Fuel choices include a 1.2 liter TSI with 105 hp, a 1.4-liter 160hp TSI service and a 200hp 2.0 liter TSI production. The range includes a 1.6 liter diesel with 105 hp and 140 hp unit. According to VW, with the addition of on / off and battery regeneration systems Beetle 1.6-liter 105 bhp estimated at a combined fuel consumption of 4.3 lt/100km (equal to 54.7 mpg 65.7 mpg or U.S. to England) and CO2 emissions 112 g / km.
The five engines can be combined with a dual clutch transmission as an option.
- Key facts summary
- Name: The Beetle
- World debut: 18 April 2011
- Market launch, North America: September / October 2011
- Market launch, Europe: October / November 2011
- Market launch, Asia: February 2012
- Market launch, South America: late 2012 / early 2013
- Character: iconic automobile
- Equipment lines: "Beetle", "Design", "Sport"
- Engine power range: 77 kW / 105 PS to 147 kW / 200 PS
- Lowest fuel consumption (combined), Europe: 4.3 lt/100 km (1.6 TDI)
- Fuel economy (combined) USA: 33 mpg (2.0 TDI)
- Engine specifications: all petrol engines are charged TSI engines (except 2.5-litre engine for USA); all diesels are new common rail TDI engines; all engines meet Euro-5 emissions standard; all US engines fulfil BIN5 / ULEV PZEV
- Debut of original Beetle: 1938
- Debut of New Beetle: 1998
- Total units built to date: more than 22.5 million
- Designers: Walter de Silva (Group), Klaus Bischoff (Brand), Exterior: Marc Lichte (team leader), Cris Lesmana, Nisan Kucam. Interior: Tomasz Bachorski (team leader), Ingo Brückmann. Colour and trim: Oona Scheepers (team leader), Susanne Gerken
- Exterior dimensions: 4,278 mm length, 1,808 mm
width, 1,486 mm height, 2,537 mm wheelbase
- Cargo capacity: 310 litres
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