Volkswagen Beetle 2009 News

Volkswagen is issuing recalls and advisories for about 2.6 million vehicles world-wide, including about 43,700 in Australia, for a range of three defects. The Australian vehicles include more than 16,700 Tiguan SUVs recalled for a fault that means a fuse can blow, causing one of the two vehicle light circuits to fail. About 16,000 Volkswagen Amarok utes are being recalled because of fuel pipe leaks affecting the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine.The remaining 11,000 cars range across various models that have VW's twin-clutch automatic DSG gearbox, in which an electrical defect could occur if synthetic gearbox oil is used," Volkswagen says..A large proportion of the 2.6 million global recall is in China -- VW's largest market -- after a problem was found there in the same gearbox that triggered a recall earlier this year. The Chinese recall affects 750,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that use the Chinesee-built DSG gearbox there.  Vehicles on the China recall list include the Volkswagen Golf, Beetle and Passat and several Audi models.It's the second recall this year on the DSG. In June more than 25,000 Australian cars were recalled for gearbox problems after pressure from disgruntled customers. Those vehicles included the Golf hatchback, Jetta sedan, Polo hatchback, Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van.Volkswagen said it is recalling 800,000 (2008-11) Tiguan SUVs and 239,000 Amaroks around the world, bringing the total number of cars affected in the three safety actions to 2.6 million.While the number of vehicles is large, analysts estimated the cost of the repairs could be relatively small. Still, the fresh problems that have surfaced with the gearbox might further dent Volkswagen's reputation in China and strain its relations with its local venture partner, SAIC.The gearbox only has problems in hot and humid climates, said Volkswagen spokesman Peter Heinz Thul. In warm climates, additives in the synthetic oil can damage the electronics. VW is proposing to replace the oil with a mineral oil that has been used previously without problems, Mr. Thul said.Volkswagen issued a recall in March in China for nearly 400,000 vehicles to fix an electronic malfunction on the same DQ200 gearbox. It said the problem was resolved with a software fix.VW officials told Chinese regulatory officials about the most recent problem earlier this week, Mr. Thul said. The automaker then agreed that a recall should be issued.Volkswagen Australia is yet to determine the impact on local models for this latest recall, but will "ensure these recalls are conducted promptly and efficiently", according to Managing Director John White, and relevant owners will be notified by mail.This latest recall follows the 25,928 Volkswagen vehicles recalled in June over similar issues with DSG transmissions manufacured between 2008-11, of which 40 per cent have been rectified to date and is expected to be completed next year.Volkswagen Australia says that this progress is in line with the timeframe anticipated, and that vehicles already attended to will not be affected by this new recall as their transmission fluid will have already been replaced.The company says concerned owners should contact their local Volkswagen dealer or can call a dedicated customer service number: 1800 504 076.

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

Because, in Australia, there is always a car.  For baby boomers and on through the alphabetical generations, the car was the centrepiece of our formative years by providing freedom from the family and the ability to selfishly form new human and mechanical relationships.You could argue without conclusion about what cars stamped their mark on Australians during and subsequent to World War II. In 1939, for example, there were 43 makes on sale in Australia ranging from Alvis to Wolseley.  But some were more pronounced than others.Carsguide's team of motoring experts from around Australia has compiled its ultimate list of the most important cars to drive on local roads in the 70 years since The Sunday Telegraph was first printed in November 1939.Right at the top of the list of the cars that have grabbed Australia's public interest most is the VW Beetle, closely followed by the Mini —  two of the most popular little cars ever to grace our streets.  Britain's baby four-seater Mini, with front-wheel drive, became a cult that spread from 1959 Britain through to the global market by the 1970s and regenerated more recently as a bigger, yet unmistakedly familiar, version of the past.The Beetle preceded the Mini by a few years, but the effect on a US-driven, big-car Australian customer base leapt from curious to smitten.  Despite the Beetles' peculiar shape and compact dimensions, people took to it further when it competed in, and occasionally won, arduous outback rallies with the accent on fuel economy, low running costs and durability.Like the Mini, the Beetle was briefly assembled in Australia, which created a home-grown affinity to the brand.  And it starred in its own movies as the popular Love Bug. More than 270,000 Beetles were sold in Australia.Appeal based on economical motoring reached its antithesis when Australia launched another of its favourites, the awesome Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase III of 1971.At the time this was the world's fastest four-door sedan. It was pictured on black and white televisions thundering down the Mountain at Bathurst, stood mystically at centre stage in Ford showrooms, and when one cruised the city streets, people just stared.Never mind that the $4300 hoon express wasn't a great sales success. It held up Australia as an engineering centre the rest of the world shouldn't mess with. If that wasn't patriotic enough, the exhaust noise was sufficient to send shivers up the spine.  And Australia had other slivers of greatness.The Ford utility was a world first at combining sedan comfort with truck-like versatility. It just suited Australia and was successful through the war and into its generational upgrades and model changes to this day. While the ute was unique, the Holden 48/215 and more production-oriented FJ that followed was more a clone of a small Detroit sedan. But it was touted as Australia's own car and the name (slogan??) stuck through impressive market sales.  The strength of the sales bedded General Motors' Holden into Australia soil and spawned a line of winners, most notably the enduring Commodore that was originally nicked from Germany's Opel but soon became indelibly indigenous after its launch in 1978.And then came the Japanese. Post-war Australia took the Japanese car as a bitter pill that once was targeted by the RSL as being a very unwelcome addition to its meetings' car parks.  But a Toyota Corolla is either owned — or has been owned — by virtually every Australian family. It was the first family car and the first car for youths and the preferred second-hand transport for the budget-conscious.The wave that washed away the war and made Toyota — and other Japanese makers — a household name also participated in our early history.  Toyota LandCruisers were the mules for the Snowy Mountain hydro-electric scheme, and the durability of the model to this day ensures that we are comfortable with the generic term of 4WD as a LandCruiser.It's hard to say where we would be, and what Australia would have become, without the vehicle.The most significant cars of the past 70 years1 VW Beetle2 Mini3 Toyota Corolla4 Holden FJ/48-2155 Holden Commodore6 Ford Ute7 Falcon GT-HO8 Toyota Prius9 Toyota LandCruiser10 Valiant Charger11 Holden Kingswood12 VW Kombi13 Holden panel van14 Mazda MX-515 VW Golf16 Citroen DS17 Porsche 91118 Morris Minor19 Hyundai Excel20 MGB21 Austin A3022 Subaru Leone23 Volvo 24024 Leyland P7625 Ford Customline

More than eight years after the German people’s car was reborn with a beetle body bolted over a Golf mechanical package, work is being finalised on a 21st century take on the classic shape.The new-new Beetle should be in showrooms within 18 months, following the latest Golf 6 and the Polo which will be revealed by Volkswagen next year.“We have a fun plan to renew the Beetle. And we don’t just have a plan, we have done it,” says the executive vice-president of Volkswagen, Detlef Wittig.There is an outside chance the Beetle will be shown as a concept next week at the Paris Motor Show, as Volkswagen says it will have three show cars in the French capital. One is confirmed as the Golf GTi, which goes into production next year, but the other two are being kept a closely-guarded secret.But Wittig hints that the car is even closer, at least to production.“This will take a couple more months,” he says.Although the timing for the Beetle’s renewal is uncertain, all the work has been done — including the styling.“We in design are ready,” says Frank Bruese of the Volkswagen design department.He says VW has a tough job with the Beetle because, like the Porsche 911, its basic design is a classic form. Still, he says there have been significant changes which will not affect the appeal of the car.“It’s is more of a man’s car. A bit stronger, a bit tougher,” Bruese says.“The current one is more architectural, this one is more emotional and sporty. It’s sharpened.”The born-again Beetle was one of the earliest retro cars from the 1990s, although it has since been followed by — and overtaken by — everything from the Mini to the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro.The Mini was updated well ahead of the Beetle — and is also being stretched with the Clubman, a second-generation Cabrio and the upcoming 4x4 wagon—but VW has taken its time with the Beetle.Bruese says the timing has allowed the design team to do more work on the car, not just in detailing but even in the way the classic beetle body is updated.“This circle is something to play with,” he says.