Volkswagen New Beetle Manual
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Friday, February 06, 2009Volkswagen New Beetle was the cute car that started the retro-futurist design craze, which is still going strong. It was a modernized version of the legendary VW Beetle and struck a chord with consumers who had grown tired of standard conservative car designs and had fond memories of the "Bugs" from their youth.
Now on sale in the North American market for more than a decade, the Volkswagen New Beetle hasn't really changed. It's still a good car, but it's not as functional as other offerings in its class. Buyers also have little reason to pick up a new New Beetle over a certified pre-owned model.
Volkswagen India is seriously considering to launch the New Beetle very soon to compete with the likes of Fiat 500. It is expected that New Beetle will be priced around Rs. 15-16 lakhs in India. It is a very smart, stylish, and refined hatchback. It combines the German engineering and performance with exceptional fit and finish. With styling straight out of yesteryear and a fun driving experience, the New Beetle is perfect for drivers who like to exert their personality. But its tight cabin limits its appeal.
The modern version of the ”Love Bug,” the New Beetle distinguishes itself primarily on its exterior body shape, comfortable road handling, and plenty of standard features common with the entire Volkswagen line. It is a front-wheel drive car based off of the MK4 generation Golf/Jetta platform. Four passengers can be seated in this unmistakably classic vehicle. It is powered by a 150 Bhp 2500cc inline-five cylinder engine.
It is availabe in a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic with manual gear selection. Safety features include front and side-impact airbags, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, and daytime running lights. The New Beetle may not seem to have the roomy interior cabin of other competitors, but don’t judge this book by its cover. Most passengers will feel relatively comfortable up front and cargo space will handle everyday driving and loads.
Raising and lowering the Beetle's top is pretty simple - one button on the console takes it up or down, and there's only a single manual latch you must pull and twist to secure it tightly to the vehicle body. 16-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, full power accessories, heated front seats, cruise control, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and a premium audio system with a CD/MP3 player are added amenities. All New Beetle coupes come fully-equipped with antilock disc brakes, stability control, front-seat side-impact airbags and active front head restraints.
Convertibles also feature an added rollover protection system for emergency situations. In side-impact testing prior to this year’s launch, the New Beetle received a perfect five-star rating for front passengers.