Volkswagen New Beetle - System In The Bug

It’s probably best to avoid any opinions on the styling and whether the car’s appeal will go beyond fans of the Glee TV show. That’s the trouble when dealing with cars with storied histories like the VW Beetle, in this instance the new New Beetle, there’s just too much emotional baggage. Let’s say this is an evolution, only the third generation of a car that first came out in 1938. Compared with the old New Beetle, this one is 6 inches longer, 3.3 inches wider and 0.5 inches lower. It also has a larger trunk. Engine choices are a 2.5-liter five-cylinder (170 hp), a 2.0-liter turbodiesel (140 hp) or a 2.0-liter turbo four gasoline engine (200 hp). With the 2.5 there’s a choice between a five-speed manual and a six-speed auto transmission. The other two engines come with a six-speed manual as standard, with the superb DSG six-speed ’box as an option. The diesel variant is good news; VW claims 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, along with a juicy 236 lb-ft of torque. The 2012 New Beetle hits American showrooms around late September.