New Beetle Unveiled
Volkswagen unveiled the newest Beetle generation at the Shanghai Motor show last month. 84 mm) and 1,486 in height (-12 mm). The track width front and rear as well as the wheelbase at 2,537 mm, are also increased. There will be three trim levels available - Beetle, Design and Sport - each of with its own character and features,. Optional equipment will include Keyless Access through satellite navigation systems, panoramic sunroof as well as bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. For the UK market, there will be four engine options, three petrol -a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS, a 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS and a 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS; and one diesel - a 1.6-litre 105 PS with Volkswagen's BlueMotion Technology. The additions of Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems allow the Volkswagen Beetle to achieve figures of 65.7 mpg on the combined cycle and emit only 112g/km of CO2 emissions with the 1.6 litre 105PS engine. Safety features will include standard ESP and six airbags, alongside a laser-welded and galvanised body structure. The top of the range engine, the 2.0 litre 200 PS will feature standard XDS electronic differential lock as fitted to the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The new Volkswagen Beetle will be ready to order in the summer for UK customers, with the first cars arriving in showrooms during early 2012 for sale alongside the Volkswagen Golf in Scotland.
Tom Smith: And the Autobahn is a hot item because 鈥?And I saw it in their showroom, it was absolutely gorgeous. That was the one that you were supposed to drive, but it was sold just before you went to do your test drive. Tom Smith: So, my assumption is that it鈥檚 a tough one even for dealers to get. Clinton Quan: Yeah, I would imagine it鈥檚 pretty limited trim to get, and most dealers probably wouldn鈥檛 have that many on their lot. The majority of them would probably have the S and the SE, which are probably the top-selling trims. Tom Smith: But, well worth it because that鈥檚 one of the more fun cars I鈥檝e driven in quite a while. Clinton Quan: It鈥檚 definitely a really fun car and there鈥檚 not a lot of other cars in that class with that type of performance. Tom Smith: Right, for that kind of money. Clinton Quan: For that type of money.
There鈥檚 probably less than a handful of other cars. Tom Smith: And that brings me back to me personally, I鈥檓 all about value, just all about value. I mean, talk to me when I 鈥?or if I鈥檇 have a gazillion dollars, then the badge, the curb appeal, but there鈥檚 a lot of curb appeal for this vehicle. I mean, it鈥檚 a good looking ride too. Clinton Quan: It鈥檚 a good-looking ride and what I like most about the car is the interior. It really reminds me of an Audi as well, it鈥檚 part of the Audi family. I used to have an Audi TT with that same engine 2-liter, in line for a Turbo, and that car was so much fun. And as soon as I got into this vehicle, it really reminded me of the Audi TT, just a really, really fun car to drive. And this car actually has quite a bit more torque than the TT I had, the TT had 207 I believe, on torque and 200 horsepower, but this one is rated 220 and 250 on torque.
Tom Smith: Big difference. Clinton Quan: Yes, big difference. Really well-designed interior, it鈥檚 got that flat-bottom steering wheel that I really like, the large circular gauges, the tachometer, the speedometer, and then that angled center console stamp with the audio and the climate controls, and it鈥檚 touchscreen as well. And it鈥檚 a big screen. Tom Smith: Very driver-focused, very driver-friendly. Clinton Quan: Very driver-focused, excellent ergonomics, the buttons and controls that are right at your fingertips, right where you want them to be. Tom Smith: It鈥檚 a little thing, but I love the sportier cars when they put the little 鈥?I think it鈥檚 stainless steel accents on the pedals. Clinton Quan: Oh yeah. Tom Smith: That鈥檚 just like 鈥?I don鈥檛 know. Clinton Quan: That鈥檚 a nice little 鈥?Yeah. Tom Smith: It鈥檚 a nice touch. Clinton Quan: It鈥檚 a really nice touch, yes. And there鈥檚 still a good amount of leg room in the back.
Well, at least for me. Tom Smith: No, no, there was for me too without a doubt, and I鈥檓 a little taller than you. I鈥檓 not huge but I鈥檓 5鈥?0鈥? all closed up with just shoes on, 5鈥?1鈥? almost six feet, but plenty of room. So we usually go around the outside, then come to the inside, then talk about the drive, we鈥檝e bounced all over the place on this one. Tom Smith: Let鈥檚 try to bring some uniformity to this podcast just a little bit. Let鈥檚 go around the outside of the vehicle, we know it looks beautiful, but let鈥檚 talk specifically a little bit. Clinton Quan: Well, it鈥檚 got that traditional Volkswagen design. It鈥檚 got really, really clean lines, a modern look to it, and Volkswagen calls it their hot hatch. It鈥檚 a Hatchback, a photo Hatchback and it鈥檚 really, really sporty design and especially with those nice looking wheels on that GTI SE.
