2017 VW Beetle (#ByeByeBeetle)

Extended review: Volkswagen's Beetle R-Line

Sean Parker spent his December break with a special companion - the Volkswagen Beetle R-Line, one of only 50 models in the country.

Cape Town - Did you know that the Volkswagen Beetle was manufactured at the Uitenhage factory in the Eastern Cape for just under 20 years?

A model that became popular in Mzansi was the 1600S, in the 70s a sportier SP 1600 derivative was launched and was littered with 'performance' overtones; front spoiler, wider tyres, and a more powerful engine.

Inside the SP 1600 was decked out with with red tartan seats and a smaller steering wheel.

And that brings me to the latest Beetle I've been running throughout the December holiday break. It's one of 50 Beetle models that have been given the R-Line treatment.

It has black gloss treatment on the door sills, rear bumper and front lower airdam. Step inside and the 'R' treatment extends to the fabric seats and steering wheel.

Also standard are xenon headlights and LED daytime driving lights.

Powering the R-Line model is VW's tried and tested 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 110kW/250Nm. A six-speed dual-clutch gearbox does the business with the smoothness of James Earl Jones' voice.

The Beetle's persona is laid back and chilled and that's how to really enjoy this car. Drive it sedately, cruise around the mountainside and you''ll reap the rewards of its supple suspension and frugal consumption. I averaged around 7.0-l/100km over a three week period, which I thought was pretty impressive. In fact, I managed to achieve more than 800km from a single tank.

The 1400cc engine has enough oomph for overtaking and cruising. One of the few trips was down to the West Coast to Langebaan, I popped the cruise control on and settled into a nice rhythm. On that particular trip I had two friends along with me and admittedly, that was about all the car could handle in terms of space. Rear legroom is super tight.

Niceties such as AppleCarPlay (courtesy of the composition media pack with app connect) , a sunroof, ambient lighting , stainless steel pedals, 18" wheels with a cool black and dual climate control that came in handy during the hot summer.

Reflecting on my time with the Beetle, it suited my lifestyle of just having my girlfriend in the passenger seat and a boot to chuck bags, beach towels and shopping.

At R419 900, it may seem steep for a car that can't fit four adults (comfortably) but the Beetle offers a sense of freedom and fun that others just don't.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/extended-review-volkswagens-beetle-r-line-20180125
 
Volkswagen confirms Beetle won't be replaced

Current generation of retro-styled car will be the last, VW's R&D boss reveals

The Volkswagen Beetle will not be replaced and will go out of production after its current generation, the firm's R&D boss Frank Welsch has confirmed.

The future of the retro-styled Beetle has been in doubt for some time. Speaking at the Geneva motor show, Welsch said that the production version of the VW ID Buzz electric concept – which takes cues from the Type 2 Transporter – would take the place of the Beetle as a retro-inspired model in the VW range.

Welsch said that "two or three generations is enough now" for the Beetle. He said the car was "made with history in mind but you can't do it five times and have a new new new Beetle".

The Beetle is sold as a coupe and a convertible, and Welsch said that the recently confirmed T-Roc convertible was a replacement for the Beetle cabriolet as much as the Golf and Eos convertible models.

The role of a 'heritage' model in the future for VW would instead be served by VW's recreation of the Microbus rather than a Beetle, with a production version of the ID Buzz due around 2021/22 based on the VW Group's new electric platform

"With MEB [the VW Group's electric car platform], you can do a bus and be an authentic vehicle with the original shape, and steering wheel mounted like the original. You can't do that with an engine in the front. The shape you see on the concept is realistic," said Welsch.

"People asked when production starts on the car, so we decided to go that way. Better to have that than having five generations of a new Beetle.

"We had all these Microbus concepts in the past but all were front engined. The physicality of bringing it on MQB or PQ-something to life does not work."

Volkswagen launched the New Beetle in 1997, with a second generation model following in 2011.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/...w/volkswagen-confirms-beetle-wont-be-replaced
 
Bug squashed! VW confirms Beetle will be killed off

A high-ranking Volkswagen official has revealed that the Wolfsburg-based brand will not replace the Beetle when the current generation’s lifecycle ends, finally confirming the end of the road for the Bug.

VW revived the Beetle nameplate back in 1997, before moving on to the current generation in 2011. In South Africa, the Beetle has already been discontinued, with the arrival of 50 units of a limited-edition R-Line derivative serving as something of a swansong.

According to Autocar, Frank Welsch, who holds the position of VW brand board member responsible for technical development, said that the Beetle would go out of production with this present generation.

Welsch told the British publication that “two or three generations is enough now” for the Beetle, adding that the vehicle was “made with history in mind”.

“But you can’t do it five times and have a new, new, new Beetle,” Welsch said, adding that the upcoming production version of the ID Buzz concept – billed as “a Microbus for a new era” – would take the Bug’s place as the VW line-up’s retro-styled model.

The executive furthermore explained to Autocar that the upcoming T-Roc convertible would essentially fill the gap left by the Beetle cabriolet.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/bug-squashed-vw-confirms-beetle-will-be-killed-off/
 
[video=youtube;idQe9tCMIDQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQe9tCMIDQ[/video]

Weird that the window takes a while to drop, in my coupe it drops instantly, it is impossible to snag the roof.
 
DRIVEN: Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet R-Line 2,0 TSI

The Volkswagen Beetle nameplate is one of the most recognised of the 20th century. With the Wolfsburg-based automaker earlier confirming that the current-generation Beetle’s production is set to end (the last SA-bound models were imported in August 2017), we grabbed the chance while in Europe to drive one of the last models earmarked for Switzerland.

The details

Our test unit is a well-specced Beetle Cabriolet R-Line. Under that rounded bonnet you’ll find an engine closely related to the one powering the Golf GTI, here delivering 162 kW and 350 N.m.

Although the base price starts at the equivalent of around R359 000, in R-Line trim our model is priced at about R475 000. A few of the selected options include 20-inch “Monterey” wheels (for about R29 400), the “Technik Paket” (at R21 000) and a “Vienna” leather interior (for around R41 200). With a few more extras in the mix, the total cost of this particular vehicle came to the equivalent of R664 500. It is an expensive car, but it sure looks the part.

Indeed, the Europeans have such a wide variety of optional specifications, which means they can really go to town when specifying a Beetle on VW’s configurator.

The cabin

The photographer and I have plenty of luggage between us, and although boot space is limited, we’re able to easily plonk our large suitcases onto the rear seats. The cabin is a comfortable place, with a high perceived quality, as we’ve come to expect from Volkswagen. The fact that the car’s exterior shape is replicated on the window sills is a nostalgic hat-tip to the original Beetle.

On the road

Our route takes us from Switzerland into the south of Germany and then back to the Alps. It takes only a few kilometres for me to appreciate the punchy nature of this 2,0-litre turbopetrol. Shifting gears manually makes for a relatively old-school experience in what is still a fairly modern car, but with very little stop-start traffic on our trip, I never really yearn for the DSG transmission (which is also available).

With oodles of available torque, it’s a relaxing experience to keep the Beetle in sixth gear, from speeds as low as 60 km/h, and watch as it easily picks up speed when asked to. Heading into Germany, stretches of derestricted Autobahn allow me to pin the throttle numerous times. Although no sports car, the Beetle easily clocks 200 km/h and happily stays at such speeds for several kilometres (the top speed is a claimed 230 km/h).

What is more impressive on these highways, though, is just how quiet the convertible Beetle is inside. Holding a conversion with my passenger is never a challenge, despite the high speeds. It’s only when you drive past a truck or through a tunnel that you realise you have a soft-top over your head. Once you’ve lowered the roof and put the windows up, wind buffeting is minimal and the engine and exhaust sound, as is the case when the roof is closed, is never intrusive.

Another highlight is the ride quality. Even running on large, optional 20-inch wheels with low-profile tyres, the damping is impressive and few bumps are intense enough to filter through to the cabin.

Summary

There are undoubtedly models in the “New Beetle” range, manufactured from 1997 until present day, that will one day become collectable. This vehicle has been refined into a very likeable car and, having spent 1 700 km behind the wheel on some of the best roads in Europe, I can certainly see its appeal … for now and into the future.

Model:Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet R-Line 2,0-litre
Price:No longer available in SA (see article)
Engine:2,0-litre, turbopetrol
Power:162 kW between 4 500 and 6 200 r/min
Torque:350 N.m between 1 500 and 4 400 r/min
0-100 km/h:6,9 seconds
Top Speed:230 km/h
Fuel Consumption:6,6 L/100 km
CO2:154 g/km
Transmission:6-speed manual
Maintenance Plan:N/A

http://www.carmag.co.za/car-reviews...en-volkswagen-beetle-cabriolet-r-line-20-tsi/

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Dead: Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen, a company that has essentially stripped its most iconic model, the VW Beetle, of most of its identity over the last couple of decades, is throwing in the towel with a new Final Edition for the 2019 model year.

The original Beetle was a plucky, light, manual, air-cooled rear-engined, rear-drive car packed with an immeasurable amount of charm. Then The New Beetle came along at the turn of the century as an uninspiring front-wheel drive compromised VW Golf variant, basically, and it’s just been a slow degradation into something even more mundane with the current-day car.

And now it’s on it’s way out, as made official by VW today with the announcement of the Final Edition trim for the 2019 model.

The Final Edition Beetles will be available in coupe and convertible, and are inspired by the final run of the original Mexico-produced Beetle in 2003. The new trim includes special Safari Uni and Stonewashed Blue paint options, chrome accents, a “Beetle” badge replacing the usual “Turbo” badge, and 15-spoke chrome 17-inch wheels.

There’s also color-matched interior trim pieces to the Safari Uni paint color, including the “Beetle bin” glove box, dashboard and seats, and a few other unique “Beetle badging” like on the steering wheel.

Beyond the cosmetics, the 2019 VW Beetle Final Edition SE and SEL models get the same standard equipment and options as the rest of the Beetle lineup. The SE starts at $23,045, $27,295 for the convertible, and the SEL at $25,995, or $29,995 for the convertible, plus and additional $895 destination charge for all of the above.

Even though I have no strong emotions about the loss of the current Beetle, nor the one that came before it, I’m still upset that there are no current plans to bring it back, because I don’t think it’s that difficult to bring back some of the charming simplicity of the original.

There are rumors that it could return as a sort of emotional flagship car for VW’s upcoming lineup of electric vehicles, which would easily allow it to be rear-drive again thanks to the adaptable layout of the automaker’s new EV architecture.

But those decisions, VW representatives have admitted, are still a ways off, so we can only hope they pull it together and do it right when the time comes.

https://jalopnik.com/dead-volkswagen-beetle-1829035495

Beetle 1.JPGBeetle 2.JPGBeetle 3.JPGBeetle 4.JPG
 
Bug squashed! Volkswagen confirms death of the Beetle

Volkswagen has officially confirmed the impending death of the Beetle, announcing that it will end production of the third-generation model at its Puebla, Mexico plant in July 2019. Despite saying there are “no immediate plans” to replace the Beetle, the brand hinted that the nameplate could later return.

VW revived the Beetle nameplate back in 1997, before moving on to the current generation in 2011.

Hinrich J. Woebcken, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, announced that VW would “celebrate the Beetle’s rich heritage” with the launch of two special models (the Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL) for that market.

“The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle’s many devoted fans,” said Woebcken.

“As we move to being a full-line, family-focused automaker in the US and ramp up our electrification strategy with the MEB platform, there are no immediate plans to replace it. But as we have seen with the ID Buzz – which is the modern and practical interpretation of the legendary Bus – I would also say, ‘never say never’.”

Available in the US in coupé and convertible body styles, the Final Edition models feature additional standard equipment and what VW describes as “unique upscale décor elements designed to send the Beetle off in style”.

The models also draw inspiration from the first-generation Beetle’s final run. While these vehicles were available only in beige and light blue, the latest Final Edition models are offered in two similar hues (Safari Uni and Stonewashed Blue), as well as three other colours.

All 2019 Beetle models are powered VW’s familiar 2,0-litre TSI engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

In South Africa, the Beetle has already effectively been discontinued, although the limited-edition R-Line derivative (50 were brought in more than a year ago) is still listed on the brand’s local website.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/bug-squashed-volkswagen-confirms-death-of-the-beetle/
 
End of the road (again!) for VW's iconic Beetle

Volkswagen has announced that it will stop producing the Beetle in July 2019, ending a model that looked backward to the 1960s counterculture as the automaker prepares for a leap toward a future of mass-market electric cars.

The original VW Beetle, developed in the 1930s, made a journey from a product identified with Adolf Hitler to a symbol of Germany's rebirth as a democratic, industrial powerhouse after the Second World War. In the 1960s, the Beetle was a small-is-beautiful icon of the postwar baby boom generation. Volkswagen discontinued procution of the Beetle in germany in 1978, but continued production in South Africa, Brazil and Mexico; the last Type 1 Beetles were built in Mexico in 2003.

In the mid-1990s, at a time when Volkswagen was struggling to rekindle sales in the United States, then-chief executive Ferdinand Piech pushed to revive and modernize the distinctive Beetle design pioneered by his grandfather, Ferdinand Porsche. The result was a crescent-shaped car called the "New Beetle," launched in 1998, which offered playful touches such as a built-in flower vase.

Turning point

The New Beetle was a hit during its early years, with sales of more than 80 000 in the United States in 1999, but recently the car's sales have suffered along with most other small cars. Volkswagen has sold about 500 000 Beetles globally since 1998, the company said.

The end of the Beetle comes at a turning point for Volkswagen; its past three years have been rocked by the fallout from a scandal caused by its admitted cheating on diesel emissions tests. Now, Volkswagen is gearing up to launch a wave of electric vehicles to appeal to a new generation of environmentally conscious consumers - children and grandchildren of the 1960s Beetle enthusiasts.

Announcing the end of the Beetle, Volkswagen of America head Hinrich Woebcken there were no plans to replace as the company ramped up its electrification strategy - but he didn't rule it out altogether. He referred to the ID Buzz, a concept for a 21st Century reincarnation of the microbus, which Volkswagen has said it intends to put into production as an electric vehicle.

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/end-of-the-road-again-for-vws-iconic-beetle-17066361
 
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