The main attraction on the Volkswagen stand at JIMS is the latest Beetle, which is being previewed ahead of its local launch due in the first half of 2012.

Bolder, more dynamic, more masculine, VW say the new car reinterprets the design of the original (first generation) Beetle, which sold 21.5 million units. “The Beetle is now characterised by a clean, self-confident and dominant sportiness. The car not only has a lower profile; it is also substantially wider, the front bonnet is longer, the front windscreen is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. All of this creates a new dynamism,” says Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen Brand Design.

The 2012 Beetle is front-engined and front-wheel-drive. The car will launch locally with a choice of two engines, namely, a turbocharged 1.2-litre engine that produces 77 kW and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. A 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine will offer 118 kW and be available with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG transmission. Volkswagen are expected to introduce a diesel engine to global markets in 2013, but there’s no news yet on whether we’ll see it in South Africa.

When the new Beetle does launch in South Africa in the first half of 2012, expect pricing to be in the R250 000 to R300 000 range.

Volkswagen has revealed a performance version of the new Beetle, with the VW Beetle R Concept bowing in at Frankfurt.

Sharing its core underpinnings with the Golf has raised some questions as to why one might prefer the Beetle, though the car’s iconic aesthetics are the obvious reason. Just as the regular Beetle shares much of its running gear and powertrain with the standard Golf, so too does the Beetle R draw on the Golf R‘s impressive pieces.

The engine is the same 188 kW turbocharged 2.0-litre TSI four-cylinder, and though Volkswagen doesn’t mention it, the Beetle R is likely to get the same Haldex 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, too. Large 20-inch wheels and blue brake calipers accent the Golf R’s performance nature, while special bumpers with aerodynamic tweaks and wider fenders complete the look.

inside there’s a set of nappa leather-clad motorsport shell seats complete with the required ‘R’ logos and seat piping in Space Blue. The trim is trendy gloss black and there’s a set of ‘R’ instruments with a big rev counter in the middle. The sill plates get ‘R’ logos and the pedals are brushed aluminium.

Volkswagen may be calling the Beetle R a concept, but with it looking so close to a production model, you can be sure VW will be evaluating the car’s business case on the reponse it receives at this year’s show. We wouldn’t be surprised if we see a production Beetle R in 2012.

Volkswagen announced that it has commenced regular production of the 2012 Beetle at its factory in Puebla, Mexico, where its predecessor was also built.

To mark the occasion, Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Board Member for Production and Logistics at VW Passenger Cars Hubert Waltl visited the plant in Puebla. “The Beetle is a strong symbol of our brand. It combines the emotional heritage of the original Beetle with the future of Volkswagen,” said Hubert Waltl.

“The new Beetle and the engine plant we are building in Silao represent the great confidence we place in Mexico as a manufacturing location. As one of the main manufacturers of compact class vehicles, Volkswagen de México is a key building block in our growth strategy for North America,” the VW official added.

The Puebla factory is the largest automotive plant in Mexico. It already supplies North and South America with the new Jetta and the Golf Variant. It employs 15 000 workers and its annual production in 2010 was 435 000 units.

via CarScoop

Here is the first example of a tuned 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, which is set to debut in world markets in the fourth quarter of this year.

This modified Bug, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle RS Stage 1, is the creation of the Volkswagen-loving crew at VWvortex who were given a pre-production model by the German firm to work on. Since the vehicle came with no registration and license plates, the team decided to skip on the engine modes for now and concentrate on the styling aspect of the tune, which as you may have guessed by now, was inspired by the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Starting with the wheels, VWvortex fitted the new Beetle with a set of VMR710 20-inch alloys with a 35 offset. The rims are finished in orange and are wrapped around in Continental ExtremeContact DW 245-35ZR20 tyres. Behind the front wheels is a Brembo Stage II brake kit with 355 mm front two-piece cross drilled rotors, four-piston radial mount calipers, aluminum mounting brackets, stainless braided lines and pads.

For now, the exterior makeup is limited to Beetle RS graphics finished in orange on either side of the car, the blacked out chrome strips on the lower part of the doors and the grille, plus the 3M Titanium Brushed wrap for the rear VW logo. The team’s next upgrade will include a 997 GT3 RS-style rear wing.

Once VW comes out with the series production model, the plan is to move on with the performance upgrades said to include a turbo and exhaust system upgrade, and a locking torque-biasing differential.

via VWVortex

This is the next-generation 2012 VW Beetle, which has now dropped the capitalised word ‘New’ from its name. The next Beetle model will be making its official debut soon at the Auto Shanghai show and then later at the New York auto show this week.

The 2012 VW Beetle differs in styling from the previous generation with a flatter roof and more upright back end. The new Beetle is also wider than its predecessor by 84 mm and longer by 152 mm.

Engine options will include the 2.0-litre TFSI engine and the 2.0-litre TDI diesel in both European and North American spec variants. In addition the range-topping engine, the 2.0-litre 147 kW, will feature standard XDS electronic differential lock as fitted to the Golf GTI.

VW will offer various performance packages to make the 2012 Beetle as sporty as ever, including 19-inch wheels and a rear spoiler as seen in the photos here.

Adapted from WorldCarFans

Volkswagen has teamed up with the Oprah Winfrey Show to give away 275 Beetles as part of the ‘Favorite Things’ episode.

While this isn’t unprecedented (Oprah previously gave away 276 Pontiac G6s), the Beetle in question is the 2012 model which hasn’t been unveiled yet.

Details are limited, but the car will feature Ragster-inspired styling, a dual exhaust system, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin will offer sport seats, a touch screen infotainment/navigation system, ambient lighting, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The 2012 Beetle is expected to be unveiled in the 2nd quarter of next year.

via WorldCarFans