C ar S cene I nvestigation: Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI

An icon, reborn.
With the launch of the new 2012 Beetle, we come to see how a legend has been reborn.

· Design & Engineering:

Clearly, the Beetle loses its cutesy feel, retaining a more futuristic and “cool” look. Gone are the rounded features. Gone are the bubbly edges. Instead, a more masculine front with proper bi-xenon headlamps take its place. From the side, a lower and slightly wider stance provides the bug with a proper “real-car” feel. The rear end features a steeper rear section, which adds to aerodynamic improvements, as well as 21^st century looks. The rounded rear taillights have been replaced by futuristic, semi-ovals, with the distinct C-shaped VW light patterns when lit. Overall, words such as sporty, dynamic and creative can be applied to the new Beetle, making it more appealing to both men and women.

· Interior

Enter the bug, and notice the rise in build quality and ergonomics. From the driver’s point of view, a funky three-spoke steering wheel sits in place, adorn with multiple buttons that connect to the familiar touch-screen entertainment system featured in the Passat, Scirocco, Golf, etc. Continuing the tradition of being funky, Volkswagen implements that particular nature into the interior. There’s a body coloured dashboard panel that provides a sense of individualism to the vehicle. The use of a large speedometer flanked by a rev. counter and a fuel gauge reappears in the new Beetle, giving it a sense of an old-yet-new feeling. Now a 21^st century vehicle, the Beetle comes equipped with airbags, cruise control, a telephony system, GPS navigation, and best of all—a Fender audio system (optional). Play anything—from Metallica to James Ingram, and you’ll here clear and rich tones from the Fender speakers. Keep in mind that being on the lower side of the VW hierarchy, the Beetle doesn’t come equipped with luxuries such as power seats, a keyless system, etc. Nevertheless, it does its job well, and provides ample comfort for all passengers. At the rear, passengers can entertain themselves with the retro seat colours, such as Salsa red on black, coupled with the ample space enough for two full sized adults to fit snugly at the back. Despite fitting four full sized adults into the bug, the boot offers 310 liters of space, 101 liters more than its predecessor. Fold away the rear seats, and the space triples to 905 liters.

· Ride & Handlings

Just as recent Volkswagen models have done, the Beetle uses a downsized engine, being the familiar 1.2 TSI turbocharged four-pot found in the Polo, and the entry level Golf. For such a minute engine, it churns out a modest 105 BHP. Considering the Beetle’s size, a top speed rated at a 180km/h as well as a century sprint time of 10.7 seconds is rather impressive. Once revved hard though, the engine will show signs of strain and breathlessness. For lower spec models, the Beetle will use MacPherson struts up front, whereas on higher spec models, multi-link suspension set-ups will be used instead. Having tested the base model, we found that despite the relatively simple suspension set-up, the Beetle displayed a reasonable level of ride and handling composure at most speeds, with body control being fairly tight.

· Verdict

This 21^st century Beetle continues the tradition of being a simplistic yet appealing car, with charming characteristics of its own. Personally, I would opt for the larger 2.0 TSI engine, as well as the optional Fender audio system. If budget and style is what you’re looking for, then stick to the base 1.2 TSI spec model, for it will do rather nicely on its own as well. As for the pricing, it comes at a rather reasonable amount, making it even more appealing than before.