Although the all-new 2013 Volkswagen Beetle’s most notable change might be its lowered roof line, the German automaker is set to change things even further when it releases a Cabriolet version later this year. Expected to debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet will be offered worldwide as an alternative to the fixed roof example. A droptop version of the outgoing New Beetle (which wasn’t so new at the time) debuted for 2003, five years after the coupe model. Despite the wait, it proved tremendously popular, quickly changing the New Beetle’s image to that of a fun-loving beach cruiser. The wait won’t be quite as long for the second-generation reborn Beetle, which loses its “new” nomenclature. A quick-stowing, fully insulated power top will be standard. Likely to not require any manual latching, it will hide away behind the rear seats to take up as little room as possible. A heated glass rear window will also be standard. Otherwise, the Beetle Cabriolet will essentially mirror its hardtop sibling. Only two powertrains are expected to be offered in the droptop variant - the hardtop’s available TDI diesel unit won’t make the cut. That means that retro-minded sun worshippers will have to choose between a 170 horsepower five-cylinder or a 201-pony turbocharged four. Both six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions will be on offer, although the base model may not be available with the row-it-yourself unit.
In addition, rangewide standard fare will include LED headlights, leather seats, and wheels starting at 19 inches. The initial Launch Edition model will include some key options designed to tempt upgraders into the new model early on. We expect the Launch Edition will include the optional air suspension, 20-inch wheels and higher-grade leather trim, among other things. Going forward, the 170TDI base model will ride on steel springs, while the 210TDI - on larger wheels - will have air suspension, and standard spec will be higher on the more powerful vehicle. In other words, you aren't just buying more power - you'll get more kit, too. Customisation will be available by way of option packages, which is typical for Volkswagen in Australia. At least one package will revolve around off-roading, bringing more sophisticated ESC modes tailored to specific terrain, plus underbody protection. Sportier styling will be offered by way of an R-Line package that has proved incredibly popular on the Tiguan.
A further package, potentially called the Sound and Style package, will boost cabin tech to include the Innovision Cockpit: a huge 15-inch central touchscreen, 12-inch digital driver's display, and a windscreen-projected colour head-up display. It's something of a shame that the Innovision Cockpit won't be standard given Volkswagen Australia's penchant for equipping our cars with the highest levels of global infotainment. We think the Innovision arrangement, with its enormous canvas screen in the centre, is the Volkswagen Group's best interior tech yet - better even than Audi's new dual-pane touchscreen setup. We do buy the brand's argument that some of the older demographic buying into Touareg motoring may find the huge screens a bit much - and the standard, 9.2-inch touchscreen and analogue speedo and tacho will feel more approachable. Uniquely, the small screen comes with hard buttons and dials for the climate control - in the Innovision setup, everything is controlled through the screen.
