Menus
The new VW Beetle – More than an evolution
1 of 28
Exhibition tour Shanghai 2011: Behind the model you can see the Haval IF from Great Wall Motors from China.
Source: AP / DAPD
2 of 28
Hyundai is also trying to sell cars in China.
Source: AP / DAPD
3 of 28
The Subaru Outback is under scrutiny.
Source: REUTERS
4 of 28
A Spyker C8 Aileron: The Chinese also love sporty luxury.
Source: REUTERS
5 of 28
BMW presented the new M5 concept car.
Source: AP / DAPD
6 of 28
Hyundai’s new Cure 3.
Source: AP / DAPD
7 of 28
The new BMW M1 Coupe in the shine of lights.
Source: REUTERS
8 of 28
Citroen wants theirs with the DS5 "goddess" come closer.
Source: AFP
9 of 28
A mini study for the Chinese. .
Source: dpa / DPA
10 of 28
The BMW 335i Convertible is polished to a high gloss.
Source: dpa / DPA
11 of 28
No fingerprints or grains of dust may be seen on the BMW.
Source: dpa / DPA
12 of 28
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics: the electric concept car with 356 hp from Bavaria.
Source: dpa / DPA
13 of 28
The concept car of the new Mercedes A-Class is also defended by a pretty model.
Source: REUTERS
14 of 28
BMW also brought the 6 Series Coupe 650i to Shanghai.
Source: dpa / DPA
15 of 28
Renault’s electric study Dizir in front of the rear…
Source: AFP
16 of 28
… and from the front. The scissor doors are striking.
Source: AFP
17 of 28
After the DS3 and DS4, Citroen is celebrating its premiere in China with the DS5.
Source: AFP
18 of 28
With the Q3, Audi is rounding off its SUV range at the bottom.
Source: dpa-tmn / DPA
19 of 28
The BMW Concept M5 study develops 555 hp.
Source: dpa-tmn / DPA
20 of 28
The new A-Class from Mercedes (as a concept) attracts enormous attention.
Source: dpa / DPA
21 of 28
VW’s new Beetle was shown for the first time in Shanghai.
Source: AFP
22 of 28
A Cadillac CTS Coupe has mixed with the German racing cars.
Source: AFP
23 of 28
Chevrolet has brought a Camaro (left) and a Malibu (right).
Source: AFP
24 of 28
The Fiat 500 is still looking for new friends.
Source: AFP
25 of 28
BMW also expects double-digit growth rates for its 760 Li.
Source: dpa / DPA
26 of 28
A Subaru’s XV concept car is waiting among the models.
Source: AP / DAPD
27 of 28
The Dongfeng EJ02 is not really recognizable.
Source: REUTERS
28 of 28
The Audi R8 is also one of the 2,000 cars from 20 countries that can be seen at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Source: AFP
VW is celebrating the premiere of the new Beetle on three continents. However, the new Beetle no longer has much to do with its ancestor. Some customers will say lucky.
E.It couldn’t be a size smaller because the Beetle‘s successor to the Beetle "is the continuation of the history of an icon". At least that’s how Karl-Thomas Neumann, VW’s governor in China, sees this car. So VW hosted the Beetle premiere three times at almost the same time: in New York, Berlin and on the eve of China’s largest auto show in Shanghai. The presentation of a new car on three continents at the same time – VW can now claim this superlative for itself.
Sure, the Beetle was the defining car of the past century and is now finally arriving in the new millennium. But the past years of the were quite so glorious "icon" not. In Germany, of all places, business was bad, for several reasons.
The memories of the car, which gave many people unimagined mobility options, were not always good. Beetles were driven in the post-war period, the 50s and 60s. Two decades in which one was satisfied with little, had to be satisfied.
The Beetle was never a comfort model, and neither was its successor.
The New Beetle played with the shape of the traditional model, but was impractical, offered little space and was technically backward.
That will change. And that’s why CEO Martin Winterkorn rushed to what is currently the most important location for VW to present the new Beetle. "China is the center for technology and growth", said Winterkorn in Shanghai. VW dominates the market and wants to defend this market position vigorously. VW will invest more than ten billion euros in China by 2015, and 80,000 new jobs are to be created.
The Beetle should also contribute a small part to VW’s success story in China. The New Beetle came on the market in 1997, was introduced in China ten years ago, and has been sold a million times.
What car enthusiasts around the world saw with the new Beetle was more than an evolution: the second generation of the Beetle (which is no longer called the New Beetle) has gone from being a charming toy to a design piece that can compete against competitors like the Beetle Mini or the little Fiat 500 should compete.
The body, as if composed of three semicircles, makes space for a new domed structure, which rises steeply behind a longer hood and now runs down to the rear bumper in one sweep. The new Beetle is easily recognizable in the rear-view mirror thanks to its daytime running lights, which run from top to bottom in an outer semicircle.
With the new shape in the hardly changed format, the New Beetle not only finds its way back to the original, which was built more than 21 million times in more than 60 years between 1938 and 2003. But it will finally be a reasonably usable car: the endlessly long front section of the dashboard shrinks to a reasonable size, the entire dome of the cabin moves back a little, and even in the rear you can now sit comfortably without contortions.
The size of the trunk is still clearly arranged with a volume of 310 liters. But before that it was just a meager 209 liters (New Beetle). The rear seat backs can be folded down, the tailgate now swings wide.
The Beetle and its predecessor
The style of the Beetle and the Beetle are now getting closer again. But technically, the original and its great-grandson are worlds apart. Because even with the second new edition, there is no talk of air-cooled boxer engines in the rear. Instead, the same four-cylinder units that are known from the Golf are hidden under the hood. From 105 HP to 200 HP, the new Beetle offers everything you need for economy or driving fun. The automatic start-stop system and recuperation brake are also set, as is the dual-clutch transmission. And the usual assistance systems are not missing on board the Beetle: parking aid, blind spot control, ESP with emergency braking aid and active headlights are available.
The most economical diesel (1.6 TDI) should get by with 4.3 liters, the most economical gasoline engine with 5.9 liters. That is three liters less than its predecessor, said VW Development Board Member Ulrich Hackenberg at the presentation in Shanghai. However, Hackenberg did not speak of alternative drives. And that supports the impression that the new Beetle is more about design and appearance than about utility and reduced mobility.
This thought is reinforced by the equipment inside. Three round instruments are in the driver’s field of vision in the middle of the dashboard (rev counter, speedometer, fuel gauge), underneath is the (optional) large infotainment screen.
A nice memory is awakened by the glove compartment, which is right in front of the passenger’s eyes. And it doesn’t open with a flap on the thighs, as is usual today. "Everything has been redesigned, every part has been changed", says Hackenberg. In any case, the overall impression should trigger the desire in many viewers to own this car.
Just like the first generation of the Beetle, the Beetle II will again be built in Puebla, Mexico. The conversion of the factory has already started and sales in Germany are scheduled to start in the fall. It’s too early for prices. They are likely to be at the level of a good 18,000 euros, which was also required for the predecessor by VW. The dome-shaped two-door model shouldn’t stop there: Although VW already has two convertibles in the compact class with the Eos and the comeback of the open-top Golf, the Beetle will also be available with a fabric hood again next year.
The fact that the car is not nearly as successful in Germany as retro models such as a Mini or a Fiat 500 may scratch the pride of Lower Saxony. But as long as the Chinese and Americans are crazy about the modern kissable ball, the Beetle is of great importance to VW. In addition, that also fits into the tradition of the Beetle. Because while it had long been employed with us and made way for golf, it continued to roll off the assembly line in other corners of the world for many years.
Related articles
-
World premiere: good and cheap – Volkswagen unveils the Golf VII
Good and cheap – Volkswagen unveils the Golf VII 1 of 20 To speak of a revolution in new golf design would be an exaggeration, … Source: VW 2 of 20 ……
-
World premiere of the X6: BMW unveils its first off-road coupe
BMW unveils its first off-road coupe 1 of 11 Source: BMW 2 of 11 Source: BMW 3 of 11 Source: BMW 4 of 11 Source: BMW 5 of 11 Source: BMW 6 of 11 Source:…
-
World premiere: the new VW Passat takes on Mercedes
The new VW Passat is against Mercedes 1 of 9 At first glance you can see that the new Passat looks more dynamic than its predecessor, because it has…
-
World premiere of the Citroën DS5: French build new “goddess” with diesel hybrid
French build new ones goddess with diesel hybrid 1 of 11 Shanghai Motor Show 2011: Citroën starts the auto show with a world premiere. Source: AFP 2 of…
-
World premiere: New S-Class – powerful cooler, slim flanks
New S-Class – powerful cooler, slim flanks 1 of 12 The new S-Class immediately catches the eye with its gigantic radiator grille. It makes the car wide,…
-
Volvo XC90: World premiere of the large SUV
The hammer lights on the new SUV from Volvo 1 of 8 The new Volvo XC90 has a massive radiator grille and narrow headlight slots. Source: Volvo 2 of 8…
-
World premiere in Geneva: Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo
Is that the most daring Porsche of all time? Porsche has crossed an electric sports car with a sedan and an SUV. The result is the Mission E Cross…
-
Speed Day: Hell ride in the fastest Beetle in the world
A ride in hell in the fastest Beetle in the world Brake parachutes are usually not part of the standard Beetle equipment Source: JAMES HALFACRE They are…
-
Sporty Beetle: Volkswagen wants to build R version of the new Beetle
Volkswagen wants to build the R version of the new Beetle 1 of 8 Suitable for PS fans: The Beetle II looks much more beefy than its predecessor. Source:…
-
World premiere: Jaguar shows the new XE for the first time
Must Mercedes, BMW, Audi fear the Jaguar XE? 1 of 6 You can immediately recognize the new XE as a Jaguar, because the radiator grille is typical of the…
