LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Volkswagen New Beetle
built 606 days ago
The Volkswagen New Beetle is a subcompact car introduced by Volkswagen in 1998, drawing heavily on the design cues of the original Beetle. Based on a Volkswagen Golf, the "retro" design proved to be more successful in some markets than in others. It is assembled at the VW Puebla factory in Mexico. The big contrast between the New Beetle and the Classic Beetle is that, like most cars, the New Beetle has the engine in the front and storage in the back.
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The film comes along at a time when Volkswagen New Beetle sales are off nearly 20 percent when sales of the two-door hardtop and convertible are combined. How many more years VW even makes the Beetle is up for grabs, according to recent interviews with VW executives. There is no thought to a re-do, just continued year-to-year improvements, a few minor body changes and new paint colors. It has become fashionable to call the New Beetle a bust because it is so far off its initial sales cadence of some 70,000 vehicles a year. But such criticism ignores the fact that excitement around the Beetle between 1994 when it was shown as a concept car and 1998 when it debuted, pretty much saved Volkswagen of America.
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Technically, the Volkswagen New Beetle is still in its first generation, but that's not to say there haven't been changes since its launch in 1998. Earlier models (up to 2005) used GL, GLS and GLX designations to reflect the various trim levels. From 1998-2005, the base engine was a 115-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A 100-hp 1.9-liter Turbo Direct Injection turbodiesel was ... offered (the TDI trim) until the end of 2006, when it failed to meet new emissions regulations.
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Consumer Guide evaluates cars, including the 2007 Volkswagen New Beetle, according to established criteria, and each car gets numerical ratings in about twelve areas. Readers can then use those scores to compare cars to one another. Consumer Guide chooses several cars each year as “Best Buy” or “Recommended” picks, but this year, the Beetle doesn't make the cut. While ride quality and driver comfort are excellent, cargo space (especially in the convertible) and a very cramped rear seat bring down its total score.
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Soft top or hard top, the Volkswagen New Beetle is built on the same basic platform as the Volkswagen Golf, a high-quality, highly rigid chassis. A rigid chassis results in a smooth, controlled ride with little noise, vibration or harshness. Well-engineered crumple zones and other features enhance crash protection. To maintain structural integrity without sacrificing its round shape, the convertible's body has been reinforced with additional structure, including a rear seat support that increases chassis rigidity.
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Until recently, turbocharged gasoline engines have been a big part of the New Beetle's trim lineup. Sold from 1999-2006, the New Beetle 1.8T was powered by a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, which put out 150 hp. In 2002, VW added the Turbo S trim to the coupe lineup. It was equipped with a tuned up 180-hp version of the 1.8T turbo engine and a six-speed manual transmission. The Turbo S was discontinued in 2005.
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Volkswagen New Beetle