Rides : VW Presents iBeetle With Built-In iPhone Dock

 

VW says that its iBeetle, developed with Apple, is the first vehicle with fully-integrated iPhone at the Shanghai auto show .

Present at the Shanghai auto show, the iBeetle was developed in partnership with Apple and used the Beetle app, which includes Spotify for sharing and streaming of music, and displaying info as part of the instrument panel. The model comes as a convertible or coupe and the available colors are Reflex Silver, Platinum Grey, Candy White, Black Monochrome, Deep Black Pearl Effect and Oryx White Mother of Pearl Effect.
The interior design impresses with the aluminum effect dashboard and the iPhone has a specially designed docking cradle holding the phone in the landscape mode. Thanks to the special Beetle app the iPhone’s and the car’s interfaces become one and the driver has instant access to navigation, can send e-mails, make calls or even text-to-voice messages.
Currently, VW is also working on custom applications for the iPhone 5, such as checking info on oil and coolant temperatures, G-force measurements when the car is taking a corner or even a compass view so assure the driver he/she is heading in the right direction. Owners of iBeetle vehicles will have the possibility to compare different routes when it comes to time, total distance and fuel use.

Rides : Check Out The All New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

Volkswagen has pulled back the wraps on the 2013 Beetle Convertible ahead of the vehicle's debut at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. The drophead makes use of the same flattened roof line of the 2012 Beetle Coupe when the folding soft top is in place. Stow the roof, and the mechanism lays flat to increase rear visibility. Volkswagen says the roof can go from fully stowed to in place in just 10 seconds, and engineers built in an automatic rollover support system comprised of two computer-actuated bars behind the rear seat that pop up in just four milliseconds in the event of a collision.

Buyers can choose between three engine options, including a 2.5-liter five-cylinder good for 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is also available with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque and can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Finally, diesel buyers will be happy to hear Volkswagen will offer the 2013 Beetle Convertible with a familiar 2.0 turbo-diesel four-cylinder good for 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. That mill can be bolted to a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG. 

 

Press Release

VOLKSWAGEN UNVEILS THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE

Volkswagen reveals images of the latest version of its iconic convertible ahead of the
2012 Los Angeles Auto Show

Herndon, VA, October 3 – Today, Volkswagen unveils the latest Beetle Convertible, the
third-generation of the iconic VW ragtop. Like its predecessors-the type 15 from 1949 and
the 2003 New Beetle Convertible-the curvaceous convertible offers the perfect combination
of practicality and fun for four.

In creating the latest version of the Beetle Convertible, Volkswagen has reinterpreted the
Beetle Convertible's timeless design with a sportier and more dynamic silhouette, just as it did with the latest Beetle coupe. The combination of a flatter roofline and a more upright
windshield gives the car a shape that's more closely aligned with the first generation of Beetle convertibles.

Volkswagen decided to stick with a traditional soft-top rather than incorporate a folding
hardtop on the car. When the top is down, it lies flat, giving good rear visibility. Although the top looks compact when furled, it's actually wide and long when in place, an action that takes a little over 10 seconds at the touch of a button.

Inside, the Beetle Convertible retains the design cues that have made the latest Beetle such a
hit with consumers, such as the body-color dashboard and the stylish gauges and trim. The
spacious cabin has space for four full-size adults and is able to carry plenty of luggage: a
fold-down split rear bench seat increases the practicality even further.

In any Volkswagen, safety is paramount and to that end, the company has developed an
Automatic Rollover Support System. Two roll-over bars are concealed behind the back of the
rear bench seat, activated by the computer that deploys the airbags in the case of a crash.

Along with the fixed A-pillars, they provide effective protection for the occupants of all four seats within milliseconds. Driver and front passenger combined head-thorax airbags are also among the standard equipment.

The new Beetle Convertible will be available in the United States with three engine options. The entry-level powerplant is the familiar 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that makes 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Volkswagen's fuel-efficient 2.0-liter TDI® Clean Diesel four-cylinder engine makes 140 hp and 236 lb-ft, but just as importantly delivers an EPA estimated fuel economy figure of 41 mpg on the highway with the six-speed manual transmission. (A six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic is also available with this engine.) Finally, the 2.0-liter turbocharged TSI® four-cylinder, which makes 200 hp and 207 lb-ft, can be ordered with either a six-speed manual or DSG automatic.
Beetle Convertible pricing for the U.S. will be announced closer to launch, which occurs in the last quarter of 2012.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, Golf R, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

 

Credit : Autoblog

Rides : 2012 Volkswagen Beetle commercial

One of the most iconic cars of all times, the Beetle, has just been given a refreshed look and a new commercial seems to be the right thing for Volkswagen, in a campaign to attract new customers.

The German automaker has made another step into making the new Beetle more appealing to males with the flat roof, wider gauge, shorter windscreen and 200 horsepower from the four-cylinder engine which is bragging with the same performance as a sporty GTI.
Even if the starting price doesn’t seem to be so appealing, Volkswagen is offering its future 2012 Beetle customers the four-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine, mated to a manual transmission for 19.765 USD, but for almost $2.000 more, the automatic transmission becomes available.
Volkswagen says that the entry-level version where the turbo engine becomes available is priced at 24.165 USD for the five-speed manual transmission and 25.265 USD for the six-speed Direct Shift (DSG) automatic.
The German automaker has chosen a serious commercial video for advertising its new Beetle, unlike the 2012 Audi A6, which is mocking US driving.
You can watch the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle commercial below. Enjoy!

Rides : Check out The Vw Beetle R

Volkswagen’s collection of Up! concepts are holding up the eco-minded end of the carmaker’s Frankfurt stand this week, but it’s the Beetle R Concept that has captured the most attention.

The front and rear fascias are new (and wider by 1.2 inches), with the former dominated by three intakes—the center hole delivers air to the engine, while the outer inlets cool the brakes—and a splitter. The hood now has functional vents to help keep underhood temperatures in check.
At the back of the car there are four chrome exhaust finishers, and a huge spoiler tell the world that this is the most powerful Beetle.
Impossible to miss were the large five-spoke 20-inch alloys, a first on an ‘R’ car.
At the interior the Beetle R Concept, is a mix of Beetle and typical R appointments. Seats are black leather buckets embossed with the R logo and finished off with blue piping. The dash is accented with the same high-gloss black trim found on the outside of the car, while the instrument cluster has been reworked for a sportier look.
While VW didn’t release any hard specs, the German automaker has said the car could use a similar engine to that found under the hood of the Golf R and Scirocco R, which makes 266-hp and 261-hp respectively.

Rides : Volkswagen Ag. has officially started production of the new Beetle in Puebla, Mexico.

The latest generation, the design of which was unveiled in April, has a flatter roof, a less bulbous shape, narrowed windows and a crease along the side — and no flower vase near the steering wheel.
To mark the occasion, Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Board Member for Production and Logistics at VW Passenger Cars Hubert Waltl visited the plant in Puebla.

“The Beetle is a strong symbol of our brand. It combines the emotional heritage of the original Beetle with the future of Volkswagen,” said Hubert Waltl .

The company said Friday it hopes to be producing 100,000 Beetles annually at the Puebla plant by next year, with about 90 percent destined for export. The new model is expected to be in dealers’ showrooms this fall.
Initially, the Beetle will be available in the United States with a 170-hp, 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine, and a 200-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Pricing starts at $19,765 for the base model and $24,165 for the turbo. The prices include shipping.
The Puebla plant is the largest automobile factory in Mexico and one of the Volkswagen Group’s biggest vehicle manufacturing plants. It supplies North and South America as well as Europe with the new Jetta volume model.

Rides : Check The All New Volkswagen Beetle

The new design of the Volkswagen Beetle will attract more men on the United States auto market.

According to the vice president of product marketing from Volkswagen America, Rainer Michel, the “more masculine” appearance of the Beetle will attract more men into buying the car, especially with China’s growing market. “The new style was tested in North America as well as in Europe, and China is a growing market”, said the VW official.
Volkswagen’s manager of the Beetle product marketing and strategy, Andres Valbuena, placed the Beetle as a competitor for the Mini, Scion, Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. “There are now many more competitors in the market, but we will sell many more than in the last few years”, said Valbuena.
The new redesigned Beetle will be available in the United States powered by a 2.5 liter inline five-cylinder engine, which produces 170 HP, and it will be followed by a 200 HP turbo-charged four-cylinder, with prices starting from 19.765 US dollars.
With a growing market for diesels, the United States Beetle will also get a turbo diesel version, as well as a convertible, which are planned for the 2012 summer.

Rides : First Look - 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Compared to its effeminate cousin, the second generation New Beetle, the third generation (2012)  looks a bit more… let’s say, metro-sexual. While it’s certainly no macho mobile, with the aid of a lower/wider stance, shortened windshield, and 200 horsepower powerplant, Volkswagen looks to have made some nice gender neutral changes. The lumbering bug has been losing sales since 2003, and Volkswagen had to make some serious considerations. The new look of the Beetle is meant to draw a new crowd of Beetle owners, while possibly disappointing some of the traditionalists who will prefer its previous, bulbous, happy-go-lucky appearance.
Changes
The bug now has a 2.5-liter engine producing 170 horsepower on regular/unleaded juice, with the option to add turbo for a total of 200 horsepower. The Beetle hasn’t seen horsepower like this since the Turbo S left the scene back in 2005. The standard 4-banger will log around 29 mpg, while their diesel is promised to get up to 40 mpg. The flower vase has been ditched in exchange for body color accents on the dash, and the overall feel of the interior is much more upscale compared to the previous generation.
The trunk has been expanded, along with the rest of the interior, and it now includes ambient lighting, a navigation system, and an extra glove box. It is classier, sportier, and a lot more practical. Try getting a kid stroller in the second generation… it’s just not going to happen. These changes will give the Beetle a broader appeal to the mass market, setting the stage for its eventual world domination.
World Domination
Volkswagen main goals is to take on the Mini Cooper and Ford Mustang head on. That is correct, I said the Ford Mustang. Volkswagen sees the ‘Stang’ as America’s comfort food, and wants to be right along side holding a steaming slice of cherry pie. Their goal it to hit 1 million in car sales in the US by 2018, with the Beetle being a big part of that consumer rampage.
Does the 2012 Beetle have the cajones to get the job done? Volkswagen thinks so.