Volkswagen Beetle (A5)

This article is about the model introduced in 2011. For the original, built 1938-2003, see Volkswagen Beetle. For the 1997-2011 model, see Volkswagen New Beetle.

Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle (US)
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Also called	Volkswagen Coccinelle (France) Volkswagen Escarabajo (Spain) Volkswagen Maggiolino (Italy) Volkswagen Fusca (Brazil)
Production	2011–present
Assembly	Puebla, Mexico
Predecessor	Volkswagen New Beetle
Class	Compact car
Body style	2+2 hatchback 2+2 Convertible
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform
Engine	petrol engines: 1.2 L I4 TSI 1.4 L I4 16 valve TSI 2.0 L I4 16 valve TSI 2.5 L I5 20 valve diesel engines: 1.6 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed automatic 6-speed DSG
Wheelbase	2,537 mm (99.9 in)
Length	4,278 mm (168.4 in)
Width	1,808 mm (71.2 in)
Height	1,486 mm (58.5 in)
Related	Audi A3 Audi TT Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen Tiguan Volkswagen Scirocco

Volkswagen's A5 "Beetle" is a compact car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen introduced in 2011 for the 2012 model year, as the successor to the New Beetle. It features a lower profile while retaining an overall shape recalling the original Volkswagen Beetle.

One of Volkswagen's goals with the model was to give it a more aggressive appearance while giving it some stylistic aspects reminiscent of the Beetle's design. This was an attempt to distance the new model from the Volkswagen New Beetle, produced from 1997 to 2011, which never approached the success of the Beetle.

The A5 'Beetle' is longer than the New Beetle (now 4,278 mm (168.4 in) and sharing the A5 (PQ35) platform with the current Volkswagen Jetta. It also has a lower profile, 12 mm (0.5 in) shorter than its predecessor, and 88 mm (3.5 in) wider. The trunk is now 310 L (11 cu ft), up from 209 L (7.4 cu ft). The second generation Beetle is being built alongside the Jetta, Golf Variant and the old Jetta ("Clásico") at Volkswagen's plant in Puebla, Mexico.

A convertible version followed the coupé for the 2013 model year, first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2012 when it also went on sale. A performance version, called Beetle R, is projected to follow later.

Launch

On November 22, 2010, on the final episode of the Oprah's Favorite Things special, Oprah Winfrey and Volkswagen announced that every member of Winfrey's audience that day would receive one of the Beetles upon its release in 2011. VW staff gave the audience their special keys to the car. This was followed by a teaser commercial during Super Bowl XLV in February 2011.

To celebrate the global reveal, VW partnered with MTV, to make a debut on three continents on April 18. The reveal began in Shanghai, China with a MTV Sound System celebration hosted by MTV VJs, followed by MTV World Stage events in Berlin and New York City.

On April 18, 2011, the 2012 model was unveiled as the Volkswagen Beetle, dropping the word "New" from its name. It debuted at Auto Shanghai and the New York Auto Show.

During the marketing campaign at Mexico, it was advertised as "The new Vocho" (oddly in English) in the "Das Auto" marketing campaign.

Engines

The new model retains the front-engine, front-wheel drive layout of the New Beetle, while improving interior packaging with more room in the rear. Four-cylinder engine options for the European market are expected to include 1.2-litre (77 kW (105 PS; 103 bhp)), 1.4-litre (118 kW (160 PS; 158 bhp)) and 2.0-litre (147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp)) TSI petrol engines, and 1.6-litre (78 kW (106 PS; 105 bhp)) and 2.0-litre (103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp)) TDI diesel engines. In addition to the 2.0-litre TSI and TDI engines the North American market retains the 2.5-litre (125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp)) straight-five engine found in the previous Beetle.

All engines for this model are offered with an option of a six-speed manual transmission or the option of a dual-clutch DSG automatic. In the United States transmissions on petrol models come with either a five-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic on 2.5 L models, while on the clean diesel model there is the option of a DSG six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

VW Beetle Turbo Black

Special editions

The first special edition of the 2012 Beetle is the Black Turbo launch edition. It was limited to 600 cars on the U.S. market and will be the first car available through Volkswagen’s new Vehicle Pre-Order program.

A Beetle Turbo Black made an appearance at the 30th annual Wörthersee Treffen in June 2011 in Reifnitz, Austria. It was located on the floating barge showcase at the entrance to the show. Other cars on the barge included a Reifnitz Edition GTI and the Touareg Racer. A heavily modified in-house electric-powered Beetle, called E-Bugster, was unveiled at 2012 North American International Auto Show. Unlike other new Beetles, the E-Bugster is a two-seater instead of 2+2.

A convertible version of the hatchback was unveiled at the 2012 Los Angeles auto show for the 2013 model year. The convertible version is available with both the 2.0 liter turbo four-cylinder, 2.5 inline five-cylinder gasoline and 2.0 liter diesel engines. Transmission will be a five- and six-speed manual and the fast-shifting six-speed DSG automatic. Volkswagen also presented three special editions to 'celebrate the new convertible variant'. "Fifties", "Sixties", and "Seventies" special editions which featured special period accurate colors, wheels, and interior options. These "authentic reproductions", as Volkswagen calls them, will be sold in Europe this summer and the U.S. in 2013.^{[citation needed]}

On January 2013 an official XBOX special edition was released. It uses the straight-five 2.5 L (170 HP) and comes in three different colors: Black, White and Silver all of them with the characteristic XBOX colours, panoramic sunroof, rear spoiler and 18" rims. This special edition will only be available for the mexican market.

On February 2013 Volkswagen introduced the Beetle GSR Limited Edition. It is painted in yellow and black and only 3.500 will be produced.

External links

• Official Beetle website at Volkswagen.com
• VW 21st Century New Beetle page