Volkswagen Beetle 2005 News

Volkswagen is close to a final sign-off on the second generation of its New Beetle and the car, caught by Carparazzi, looks to have answered most of the complaints of about the born-again original. It has more space, more elegance, and is more faithful to the 1940s original - which survived into the 1980s - than the New Beetle. The original comeback car was nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf with a Beetle-ish body on top, a layout that gave a people mover-style driving position and almost no space in the back seat or boot. The next Beetle is coming in 2012 and the Caparazzi pictures show a test car with the production cabin layout, but with modified front and rear panels to give it some disguise. Carparazzi sources say the next Beetle will grow in length but will become lower than today's car.  It should also answer the call from the USA for more back-seat customers and more masculine appeal. Engine-wise, Carparazzi expects the German maker to carry-over the lineup found in the Jetta, including a base 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, an optional 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, the 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine for those looking for sport, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel for those looking for a blend of longevity and fuel economy, and perhaps even a hybrid model as well. There is no news yet on a cabriolet conversion for a car that is almost certainly not going to be called the New New Beetle.

The last of the modern water-cooled front-drive ‘New Beetle’ is being celebrated with the unveiling of a ‘Final Edition’ version.  Just 3000 powder blue coupe and convertibles will be sold in North America. Already hundreds have been snapped up by collectors since it was announced at the recent Los Angeles motor show.  However, the quirky two-door will soldier on in Australia at least this year before the next-generation car arrives in Europe in 2011. Volkswagen is not revealing too much about the new car, except to say it will continue with the famous bug shape.  But it is expected to be lighter, roomier and more fuel efficient with a range of alternative powertrains, including a possibly hybrid version to complement VW's new-generation petrol and diesel engines. The 2011 Beetle is expected to share its underpinnings with the new Golf and should promise better handling car.  Although the design will be evolution of the Beetle look, Volkswagen HQ is known to be looking at broadening the car's appeal from its mostly female fan base. Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, says the car has been very popular with female buyers locally.  More than 50 per cent of buyers are women under the age of 30. Gehling says the ‘Final Edition’ will only be available in America.  "But we do have some plans for limited edition models here," he says.Locally VW has introduced the limited-edition Miami version and 2008 anniversary editions, which proved popular with buyers. In the US VW even sold a hot pink ‘Barbie’ version to celebrate the doll's 50th anniversary last year.  "It's the type of car that lends itself to special editions," Gehling says. Gehling says although it has not been a big seller locally throughout its life, the company is happy with sales.  "It is not a volume product but it is consistent," he says.  The ‘New Beetle’ is based on the 1994 Detroit show car called Concept 1. When it finally hit production in 1998 the car ditched the original's air-cooled rear engine layout for a modern water-cooled front engine and front wheel drive based on the Golf.  Instead of being built in Germany too, the modern Beetle came out of Puebla, Mexico. Each special North American Bug gets ‘Final Edition’ badging, special steering wheel, sports suspension, 17-inch alloys and special paint schemes.  In the US the car is powered by a 112kW 2.5-litre in-line five-cylinder engine through a six-speed automatic.  The same engine is used in some VW commercial vehicles and Audis.New Beetle sales 2009 403 (+ cabrio)2008 790 (+ cabrio)2007 790 (+ cabrio)2006 778 (+cabrio)2005 1043 (+cabrio2004 611 (+cabrio2003 741 (+cabrio)2002 7542001 9062000 1328

Well, there is a new category coming to the fore: the mid-30s motorhome fan. I am one of them and companies like Winnebago are out to cater for our enthusiasm.With traditional motorhomes costing $100,000 and upwards, the price has always been prohibitive.But Emu Plains-based Winnebago is busy at the drawing board designing a new model for younger fans which should retail around $69,000. However, younger buyers are notoriously fickle and the devil is in the detail.But if Winnebago's best-selling Free Spirit model is anything to go by, it is on the right track. Although the Free Spirit is still in the $100,000 region, it represents stage one of the evolution. Built on a Fiat Ducato chassis with a 2.8-litre turbo diesel, 6.7m long and almost 3m tall, it is about as large a vehicle as can be driven on a car licence.Inside, the attention to detail makes it very modern indeed.A stainless-steel gas hob and grill, extractor hood, and spacious fridge are state-of-the-art.The cupboards are stylish and modern, featuring Italian wood. A flat-screen LCD TV brings it bang up to date.Long stints on the road require comfort and the first thing that jumps out at you is the space. The bathroom, often one to suffer in the space-race, is surprisingly large with a separate curtained-off shower.There is the usual bed over the driver's cabin and a table that folds flat for another.The Free Spirit can also have two bunks at the back for the kids.Underfloor storage accessed via exterior panels gave more than enough space. We stowed several suitcases and a surfboard without touching the sides.The challenge for Winnebago will be to convert the lessons learned from its winning fleet of cruisers into a cool cachet for a new market. If it wins the hearts then the dollars will follow.The mid-30s market has shown its willingness to pay premium prices for the right look and feel, as proved by the pricey new retro Mini and VW's revamped Beetle.So far, the omens look good. The Free Spirit had a positive reaction from campers we showed it off to in Byron Bay."All the wood in here makes it feel like a yacht," said one.Others were stunned by the comfort and the flat-screen TV but wanted more modern-looking cloth on the seats.But everyone agreed on one thing: they all wanted one. So the traditional hurdle that might have put younger people off the idea in the past is gone. Now the race is on to put the right new kid on the block for the motorhomers of the future.Fully laden, the Free Spirit carries 91 litres of water, more than enough for several days' free camping.It also packs enough power from its batteries to enable you to stay comfortable in the wild without worrying about flickering lights. Staying warm off the beaten track is taken care of with a diesel heater which runs off the fuel tank. In campsites, the hook-ups are all simple and painless.Once mains water is connected, all water appliances, including the shower, run with mains pressure — a godsend if you want to avoid those communal shower blocks. The power cable is simple to slot in, meaning as much TV as you can handle.The picture is pin-sharp thanks to a roof-mounted electric aerial.Fuel economy can be an issue. Filling the tank costs $70 and it took 2 1/2 tanks for the 800km trip from Sydney to Byron Bay. Fast factsWinnebagoWinnebago Industries has been operating since 1965 and is the largest manufacturer of motorhomes in AustraliaIt has no links to the American company of the same nameIt makes no less than 70 models, the largest being the Classic, which can cost $500,000 and moreThere are 170 people working at Winnebago's Emu Plains plant, making about 600 RVs a year