Creating a Beetle that can be identified as a Volkswagen while maintaining its unique appeal is no easy feat. The Beetle is the only model that does not follow Volkswagen’s strict styling requirements and components, with headlight and taillight designs not found on any of their other models.
The challenge of designing a new Volkswagen Beetle was inspiring. The designers knew that they wanted to develop the original Beetle profile more than on the 1998 New Beetle. They also made very dynamic proportions a high priority. An interesting aspect was that more than a few team members actually own their own air-cooled Beetles. It also become a cult car among younger designers at Volkswagen. And that is how the final design of the 2011 Beetle came to be in Wolfsburg – a car of today as well as a design tribute to the automotive seed of an entire corporate group. And unmistakable indeed: If one were to take the first Beetle and the new Beetle and place them in a room together – shining light just over the roofs and viewing them from the side – one would see that the lines of the rear sections are nearly identical.
The curvaceous design of this new VW Beetle enters new territory with lines that are borrowed from the Porsche Cayman. It is almost as if the Cayman was fattened up with additional room in the cabin rear for extra passengers. This new Beetle is 1,808 mm wide (84 mm wider), 1,486 mm tall (12 mm lower) and 4,278 mm long (152 mm longer). This has resulted in entirely new proportions. The gain in length allows the roof to be extended further, the front windscreen shifted back, and the rear section follows the contour of the original Beetle. All of this gives the VW Beetle a powerful appearance with muscular fenders that are filled in with large smart looking alloy wheels.
This Beetle comes with Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights (1.2l TSI Sport only); electronically adjustable, foldable and heated exterior mirrors; front fog lights with static cornering lights; and 16-inch ‘Whirl’ alloy wheels with 215/60 R16 tyres.
The Beetle is currently available in five colour choices: Candy White, Tornado Red, Saturn Yellow, Toffee Brown and Deep Black. Now open for booking at all Volkswagen dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia from 15 August. The Beetle 1.2l TSI Design is priced at RM131,888 and RM142,888 for the 1.2l TSI Sport.
For more information on the Beetle, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my
