The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will be fully redesigned.
Introduction
Then there was the vehicle sequel, the 1998 New Beetle. Now for 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, there's finally a new Beetle to replace the New Beetle, though it will just be called the Beetle. With the 2012 Beetle, Volkswagen has taken a cautious approach in terms of design. The new Beetle coupe is 3.3 inches wider and 6 inches longer than the outgoing model. Inside, VW has drawn upon elements from the original Beetle, such as incorporating two gloveboxes.
The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will first be available in the limited-edition Black Turbo launch edition model, which features the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine matched to VW's dual-clutch automated manual transmission. Later in the model year the Beetle TDI will debut, boasting VW's clean and thrifty (estimated at 40 mpg for highway fuel mileage) 140-hp turbodiesel engine.
Our cover story on the Beetle is here.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle | Beetle through history
Conventional auto industry wisdom, like it or not, is that -- at least in America -- you can sell girls a boys' car, but you can't sell boys a girls' car. It's a bit like the belief also held in the industry that you can sell an old man a young man's car, but you can't sell a young man an old man's car.
The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is bigger by a notable amount: 168.4 inches long, up 6 inches; 71.2 inhes wide, an increase of 3.3 inches.
The engine lineup:
Base: 2.5-liter, five-cylinder gasoline vs. 1.8-liter four in last model. Expected mpg ratings: 22 city, 31 highway (manual transmission) 22/29 (automatic).
Coming later as option: 2-liter turbo-diesel, 140 hp, 236 lbs.-ft. Mpg: 29/40/33.
Somewhat confusingly, VW also proposes the Mini Cooper as a possible Beetle rival -- and the Mini's isn't cheap.