2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

A while back (read years) AllSmallCars.com ran an article about the Volkswagen New Beetle and how it seemed to be a little long in the tooth for consumers. Indeed, the New Beetle as it had been called since reintroduction in the late ‘90s hadn’t seen a lot of change—at least none that would be all that noticeable to most. We also reported back in December 2009 that the next Beetle would be seen in 2012. VW is right on schedule with the simultaneous presentations of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle at the New York and Shanghai auto shows this month. The company will also be putting on an invite-only event near their headquarters in Berlin. 

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

So what does the 2012 VW Beetle bring to the table? Well, this isn’t just a little face-lift; the 2012 Beetle has a completely redesigned body, interior and drivetrain options. You might notice that we aren’t calling this a “New” Beetle. VW seems to have grown tired of that as the designation well over a decade later. So Volkswagen Beetle it is. The design is different and you will notice that the 2012 model has a more elongated look. According to Automotive News, “The separate fenders have tauter surfacing, crisper feature lines, squarer bumpers, altered detailing and a more rakish roofline.”

That isn’t all thought, the updated Beetle will feature LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlamps and larger wheels that can be maxed out at 19 inches. As we mentioned above, the new car is about 3 inches wider, 6 inches longer and half an inch lower. What about the power options you ask? The U.S. market is said to be getting three engines including: 2.5-liter five-cylinder 170-hp engine, a 2.0-liter TDI 140-hp engine and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder 200-hp engine.

Bottom line—the Beetle isn’t dead and VW seems to have put a lot of effort into getting this car to run another decade while still bringing a fresh face to the product line.

 

[Source: Automotive News]