![]() ![]() As India will only get the 1.4-litre TSI unit in hardtop form, we will concentrate only on that variant. We drove the car in both convertible and hardtop forms and with 1.4-litre and 2.0-litre TSI engine options. We went to drive the new Beetle in VW’s homeland Wolfsburg in Germany. Boot space is quite reasonable at 310 litres and the rear seats can be folded for added convenience. Although the Beetle has grown in dimensions, space at the rear is still best for kids. The visibility from the driver seat though, is hampered by the high mounted dashboard which might pose problems for shorter drivers. The front seats are well contoured with good lateral support and are comfortable over long journeys. There are way too many bits that are lifted from regular VW’s too, like the power window buttons, instrument cluster, air-con controls, and even the infotainment system which is exactly the same as the Jetta. Though the cabin have some retro elements it lacks the nostalgic feel which the Mini Cooper or even the Fiat 500 has in spades. Although the quality is mostly good, some plastic lack the plush feel that you come to expect in such an expensive car. The thin rimmed steering wheel is unusually big and the rest of the controls fall to hand easily. There is an old fashioned glove compartment reminiscent of the original in the fascia and you also get a conventional box below it. The dashboard is high and houses a modern touchscreen system. Step inside and you’re greeted by a dashboard that has been styled to replicate that of the original Beetle. The new Beetle has substantially grown in size too with it being 84mm wider and a massive 152mm longer than its predecessor. VW claims that the new car looks more masculine than before and the only sign of that is the big rear spoiler which breaks the whole smoothened look. The circular theme is further complimented by the huge wheel arches, bug-eyed headlamps and the curvy tail-lamps. ![]() The profile looks familiar – the rounded bonnet and the tapering roofline helps the car standout in the more sharply dressed crowd. The design of the new Beetle is more flowing now and is reminiscent of the original. Like other iconic cars, the new Beetle will be bought more as a statement made by its classic styling over any other factor.Īt first glance, VW seems to have done a much better job when compared to the second generation car which was previously on sale in India. In fact, like the Mini Cooper, the new Beetle is more of a style statement now it is a want more than a need, and an expensive one at that. Unlike the old bug, the third generation Volkswagen Beetle is anything but affordable. Volkswagen sold the type 1 Beetle for over six decades till 2002, managing to sell a total of over 21 million units making it the fourth most successful brand in car history. Little did Ferdinand Porsche (who developed the Beetle) know that over time it will turn into such an icon. When launched way back in 1938 in Germany, this car was meant to provide a fast, yet affordable means of transportation with running costs mirroring that of a motorcycle. It’s a modern take on the classic Volkswagen Beetle ‘The people’s car’. ![]()
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