New Technology and Minor Upgrades Give Beetle a New Lease On Life
This is the new New Beetle. It's kinda hard to tell, isn't it? But the bug has evolved. The issue of updating a retro niche model, as Chrysler, MINI
and Ford have all discovered, is that once it has been established, it's often difficult to create change while keeping the vehicle's overall look the same. So, until the day when designers and stylists come up with a new way to represent the Beetle's trademark big-eyed, curvy-fender, round-roofed look, we continue on with a mildly updated version of the well-established vehicle, which will carry the iconic VW into 2006 and beyond.
Working off 2005's Ragster sports concept, the production New Beetle has adapted a host of changes from the Californian-designed showcar to help it stay fresh in the years to come. New, more ovoid headlamps with main projector beam lenses provide better night-time vision, while the front and rear fascias with new intakes and foglamps, plus new rectangular reverse lights mark the majority of the visible differences. And while the car is still very round, very curvy, and distinctively beetle-like, the new elongated bumpers (which add 10 mm (0.4 inches) to the overall length) and new flat-faced wheel arches give the bug a softer, more flowing look.
With the only major real giveaway being the tail lamps, which now sport clear turn signal indicators, the updated Beetle won't have people doing double takes in the same way that the first did upon its release. Curious glances, do, however come from current Beetle owners, able to distinguish these minor differences, showing awareness to this new species. Aside from a set of painted six-spoke alloy wheels, the New
Beetle offers three new colours for the 3-door hatchback. My Gecko Green TDI and Salsa Red 2.5 represent two of the three new hues available, while the third, Shadow Blue, replaces Galactic Blue.
Inside, Volkswagen has switched up the cabin to make it more practical. VW has listened to what its buyers liked - better cupholders, more storage cubbies - little things that seem to make all the difference. As such, we get two very good cupholders up front, under the larger armrest, one in back, and a decent sized cubby under the console for storing sunglasses, packets of gum, cell phones and other knick-knacks. Visually, there are now different needles on the instruments, the round vents receive chrome trim rings, and the stereo has been upgraded from an AM/FM cassette deck to a single-slot CD-MP3 player with auxiliary input for iPods and MP3 players - my personal favourite addition.
This is the new New Beetle. It's kinda hard to tell, isn't it? But the bug has evolved. The issue of updating a retro niche model, as Chrysler, MINI
 |
| The king of retro gets an update, new motor and new technology. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
Working off 2005's Ragster sports concept, the production New Beetle has adapted a host of changes from the Californian-designed showcar to help it stay fresh in the years to come. New, more ovoid headlamps with main projector beam lenses provide better night-time vision, while the front and rear fascias with new intakes and foglamps, plus new rectangular reverse lights mark the majority of the visible differences. And while the car is still very round, very curvy, and distinctively beetle-like, the new elongated bumpers (which add 10 mm (0.4 inches) to the overall length) and new flat-faced wheel arches give the bug a softer, more flowing look.
With the only major real giveaway being the tail lamps, which now sport clear turn signal indicators, the updated Beetle won't have people doing double takes in the same way that the first did upon its release. Curious glances, do, however come from current Beetle owners, able to distinguish these minor differences, showing awareness to this new species. Aside from a set of painted six-spoke alloy wheels, the New
 |
| New, more ovoid headlamps are just one of about a dozen exterior changes. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
Inside, Volkswagen has switched up the cabin to make it more practical. VW has listened to what its buyers liked - better cupholders, more storage cubbies - little things that seem to make all the difference. As such, we get two very good cupholders up front, under the larger armrest, one in back, and a decent sized cubby under the console for storing sunglasses, packets of gum, cell phones and other knick-knacks. Visually, there are now different needles on the instruments, the round vents receive chrome trim rings, and the stereo has been upgraded from an AM/FM cassette deck to a single-slot CD-MP3 player with auxiliary input for iPods and MP3 players - my personal favourite addition.