>>Volkswagen Beetle (2011)

Volkswagen Beetle (2011)

Volkswagen Beetle

Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Production	2011–present
Assembly	Puebla, Mexico
Body style	2+2 hatchback 2+2 convertible
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform
Engine	petrol engines: 1.2L I4 TSI 1.4L I4 16 valve TSI 2.0L I4 16 valve TSI 2.5L I5 20 valve diesel engines:1.6L I4 TDI 2.0L I4 TDI
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed DSG
Wheelbase	2,537 mm (99.9 in)
Length	4,278 mm (168.4 in)
Width	1,808 mm (71.2 in)
Height	1,486 mm (58.5 in)
Related	Audi A3 Audi TT Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen Tiguan Volkswagen Scirocco

The Volkswagen Beetle is a compact car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagenintroduced in 2011 for model year 2012 as the successor to the New Beetle featuring a lower profile while retaining an overall shape recalling the original Volkswagen Beetle.

The Beetle is longer than the New Beetle (now 4,278 mm (168.4 in) and sharing the A5 (PQ35) platform with the current Volkswagen Jetta. It also has a lower profile, being 12 mm (0.5 in) lower than its predecessor and is wider, being 88 mm (3.5 in) wider. The boot is now 310 L (11 cu ft), up from 209 L (7.4 cu ft). The second generation Beetle will be built alongside the Jetta at Volkswagen's plant in Puebla, Mexico. Although early production versions in both Europe and North America have arrived with WVW VIN numbers, indicating German production.

Volkswagen projects that a convertible version will follow the coupe in 2012. A performance version, called Beetle R, is projected to follow later.

Launch

On November 22, 2010, on the final episode of the Oprah's Favorite Things special, Oprah Winfrey and Volkswagen announced that every member of Winfrey's audience that day would receive one of the Beetles upon its release in 2011. VW staff gave the audience their special keys to the car. This was followed by a teaser commercial during Super Bowl XLV in February 2011.

To celebrate the global reveal, VW partnered with MTV, to make a debut on three continents on April 18. The reveal began in Shanghai, China with a MTV Sound System celebration hosted by MTV VJs, followed by MTV World Stage events in Berlin and New York City.

On April 20, 2011, the 2012 model was unveiled as the Volkswagen Beetle, dropping the word "New" from its name. It debuted at Auto Shanghai and the New York Auto Show.

Engines

The new model retains the front-engine, front-wheel drive layout of the first generation, while improving interior packaging with more room in the rear. Four-cylinder engineoptions for the European market are expected to include 1.2-litre (103 bhp (77 kW; 104 PS)), 1.4-litre (158 bhp (118 kW; 160 PS)) and 2.0-litre (197 bhp (147 kW; 200 PS)) TSI petrol engines, and 1.6-litre (105 bhp) and 2.0-litre (138 bhp (103 kW; 140 PS)) TDI diesel engines. In addition to the 2.0-litre TSI and TDI engines the North American market retains the 2.5-litre (168 bhp (125 kW; 170 PS)) inline-5 petrol engine found in the previous Beetle.

All engines for this model are offered with an option of a six-speed manual transmission or the option of a dual-clutch DSG automatic. In the United States transmissions on petrol models come with either a 5-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic on 2.5 L models, while on the clean diesel model there is the option of a DSG 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.

VW Beetle Turbo Black

Special editions

The first special edition of the 2012 Beetle is the Black Turbo launch edition. It will be limited to 600 cars on the U.S. market and will be the first car available through Volkswagen’s new Vehicle Pre-Order program.

A Beetle Turbo Black made an appearance at the 30th annual Wörthersee Treffen in June 2011 in Reifnitz, Austria. It was located on the floating barge showcase at the entrance to the show. Other cars on the barge included a Reifnitz Edition GTI and the Touareg Racer. The in-house electric-powered heavily modified version of the Beetle, called E-Bugster, has been recently unveiled at 2012 North American International Auto Show. Unlike other new Beetles, the E-Bugster is a 2-seater instead of 2+2 configuration.