VW Beetle 2012 Pictures 
gallery (6 photos)
Retro is a word so overused these days, but on this occasion, and especially since I’m writing about a car which is considered a retro, I can’t think of any better. But unlike the fashion industry - who are the biggest retro culprits by trying to replicate the heady days of Carnaby Street in the 60s - retro within the car industry means something completely different. It’s about taking a design classic and giving it a 21st century twist. And like any timeless piece of design, a truly iconic car never goes out of style. And there’s another word overused too, iconic, but like retro they seem to go hand-in-hand, so be warned.
Thirteen years ago, Volkswagen lifted the veil off the new Beetle and so begun a whole new genre in car design. Since then, we’ve seen the phenomenally successful Mini and now the Fiat 500 enter into the arena. However, drawing inspiration from the past isn’t a new concept for car designers. Car makers are keen to tell the story of their heritage, and the best way to do this is by incorporating past design cues into new models. They may not be so overtly retro-ish, but somewhere within the folds and creases of the metal they’ll be more than just a nod to company’s history.
The Beetle has had the most convoluted existence, from being the brainchild of Hitler to then becoming the post-war hippy love bug and more recently, in its 21st century guise, the twice Gay Car of Year. There is now a new, second-generation, Beetle in the pipeline which is due for launch in early 2012, and I’ve just driven it. It’s much more focused towards the driver than being a fashion statement. It is still instantly recognisable as a Beetle but it is a lot more credible than the car it replaces. This may be due to the fact that Volkswagen realised that if they wanted the Beetle to remain a mainstay of their model line-up then they had to cleverly evolve it.
Despite selling over one million of the outgoing Beetles, it was always perceived as nothing more than a Golf in a different party frock. This new one, however, has a much more individual feel which is mainly due to the fact that for the first time since the original 1930s conception, it has been designed to be an original and not a second-grade facsimile.
With all that said, most of its mechanical parts have come straight out of the VW stockroom, yet unlike its predecessor they are better disguised. The interior is unique to this model though, with a few nice touches to more than warrant the price tag which starts at a very competitive £14,875. The headroom for those in the rear seats is a little limited but if they are being occupied by kids, or adults under the height of 5’7”, then it shouldn’t prove a problem. There’s a good range of engines too, including Volkswagens excellent TSI – a 1.2-litre, 1.4-litre and the top 2.0-litre with 200PS – plus a diesel in the shape of a 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Technology which averages 65.7mpg.
I really like this car. It didn’t make me feel emasculated neither did it tempt me to seek a new career in hairdressing. It urged me to drive it, a thing no Beetle had ever asked before. It’s been priced to sell, and not to be the reserve of the elite. Actually, there’s not a lot to dislike about this car. It made me smile, and that’s something which isn’t easily achieved. The only thing which is missing is the amazement it would have filled earlier generations with. Then again, it’s not really a new car. Or is it?
CAR MAKE & MODEL
VW Beetle 2012 Pictures
CAR REF NUMBER
39237
VIEWS: 447
TOTAL VIEWS: 1,764
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