Volkswagen Beetle News

When you think of dune buggies, you think of bugs -- VW Beetles, to be precise. So it's little surprise that the German carmaker has revived the name -- also seen previously on a concept at the 2000 LA show -- for this year's Detroit event. Teased in a single sketch last week, the Beetle Dune boasts a 5cm suspension lift and off-road styling tweaks compared to the production Beetle coupe.  The yellow and black 'Arizona' livery carries over to the interior trim, with yellow dash, black and yellow trim and sports-inspired materials that include seats with leather and breathable fabric upholstery.The cabin gets an enlarged 7.7-inch touchscreen display, with the system including apps that deliver POI information -- including alerts if any of your friends are nearby --  extra gauges and a new dash-mounted grab handle for panicky front seat passengers.It rides on 19-inch, five-spoke wheels and Volkswagen suggests there is the chance for some of the cues to reach production -- or at least, more of them than those of the 2000 concept. The carmaker says the 2014 show car is  “is a lot more feasible ... potential for a new production version of the sportiest Beetle".However any move from show to showroom shouldn't expect to stray too far from the bitumen, as despite the ride height and rugged looks, the Dune's 155kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (from the limited-edition Beetle R-Line sold overseas) delivers drive via a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto only to the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive to back up its cosmetic attitude.

The first images of Volkswagen’s new Beetle Dune concept have appeared online, ahead of its public unveiling in Detroit this week.Teased in a single sketch last week, the Beetle Dune boasts a 5cm suspension lift and off-road styling tweaks compared to the production Beetle coupe, harking back to the previous Dune concept shown at the 2000 Los Angeles motor show.The interior has been given the Dune treatment too, with black and yellow trim, an enlarged touchscreen interface, extra gauges atop the dash and a new dash-mounted grab handle for front seat passengers.Unlike the earlier concept, Volkswagen admits that the new Dune “is a lot more feasible ... potential for a new production version of the sportiest Beetle".“The Beetle Dune is very much based on the current production model”, Volkwagen says.Despite its off-road pretence, the Dune uses a front-wheel drive layout, with the 155kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four from the limited-edition Beetle R-Line sold overseas, backed by a six-speed DSG dual-clutch auto.   

With the softroader segments booming around the world, there's probably no car that's not being weighed up as too unlikely a model to get the treatment. Volkswagen's Beetle has some history in that field as the underpinnings for decades of 'dune buggies' -- with even the military building some as desert patrol and fast attack vehicle for the SAS, US Navy Seals and other troops.VW is again trumpeting that heritage in the name of the Beetle Dune concept that will be unveiled at Detroit motor show, with a 5cm higher ground clearance and a ski rack suggesting it's getting set to tackle the slopes. An earlier Dune concept appeared at the LA show in 2000, but VW admits it was "not very realistic (and) the 2014 Dune Concept is a lot more feasible ... potential for a new production version of the sportiest Beetle".However it's not getting the benefit of all-wheel drive, and instead is based on the limited-edition R-Line Beetle sold overseas with a 157kW turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels with the benefit of an electronic diff lock system to add traction, and a strut-type front and multilink rear suspension.

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.

To me, it was always a Beetle. But other people have other stories and they are reflected in the tail of the newest Beetle-Bug to hit the road in Australia. Owners are able to pick their own badge for the back end, choosing between Beetle, Bug and the generic Volkswagen for the chromed strip of script that sits below the traditional round VW logo. Me? Despite my Beetle history, I'd go for Bug because it's a bit different and says something at a time when too much of the car world is bland and boring. Those two words never applied during my Beetle years. I got the car - in plain battleship grey - when I turned 18. It was a 1959 model - the first with the larger back window, but still running awful six-volt electrics - and nearly as old as me. We went everywhere together and hit many milestones, from my first start in a forest rally to to my first engine replacement and my first time with zero - drum - brakes on a downhill run through the Kangaroo Valley south of Sydney. I can still remember the time the back seat caught fire - long before modern seat heaters - because the battery was beneath the back bench and I was carrying someone with a bit of heft. My Beetle also used more oil on a freeway sprint between Liverpool and Campbelltown than any diesel car I've driven over the past 30-plus years. I ran through a couple of engines and once endured weeks without a clutch, good training for synchronising the gears, when the cable snapped. My youthful enthusiasm led to matt-black bodywork, long before it became a fashion trend for Benzes and BMWs, and I admit that I cried on the day when I traded it for a Honda S800 sports car that was great to drive but a total disaster. I really caught the car bug during my Beetle years and I've often considered a rounded replacement over the years. I'm looking forward to driving the new Beetle-Bug but I don't think it will stir the emotions of my first true love. This reporter is on Twitter @paulwardgover

It’s the droptop Volkswagen that has run for just over two years in the hands of The Wiggles.Officially known as the Big Red Car, it’s now going for auction to raise money for  SIDS and Kids charity.Volkswagen says the specially-tweaked Beetle Cabriolet was supplied for use at outdoor events and, since it’s spent most of its time parked, has only 300 kilometres on the clock.It is likely to be superseded next year with an all-new open-air Beetle lands in Australia.The auction runs for 10 days from December 7 and early predictions point to a $40,000 pricetag for the Big Red Car. 

The retro revival car was not a hit at first with men but another re-work -- given an early tease in Sydney -- changes everything but the Herbie-style shape that makes a Beetle a Beetle, is claimed to be much more masculine.It rolls into Australia next year in a one-size-fits-all package built around a 118TSI engine, with limited options and the choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG gearboxes. "The new Beetle has a more masculine style which we believe will have a wider appeal," the managing director of Volkswagen Group Australia, Anke Koeckler, tells Carsguide."Based on the feedback from the Australian International Motor Show the new Beetle is definitely a more appealing vehicle to both men and women. It has a more dynamic and sporty style. "The new Beetle is bolder, more dynamic and simply fun to drive. It clearly has a place in our range as it shows the emotion in our brand." She says the re-design has been done to answer complaints about the previous retro Beetle.Carsguide said from the start that the new-age Beetle was severely compromised by having to share the mechanical package of the Volkswagen Golf. That mean the rounded body had to sit well back, creating a people mover-style driving position, pinching rear-seat space, and turning the boot space beneath the rear hatch into an afterthought.Volkswagen still sold more than one million cars globally, and boosted the Beetle back into a cabrio and a semi-speed machine with a turbo engine and all-wheel drive, but Koeckler predicts much more from the new car. "The new Beetle was designed be even more practical. Customers will find the vehicle has significantly more interior space as it is longer and wider and the boot area has increased from 209 litres to 310 litres," she says.The new-new Beetle is expected in February, timing that puts it ahead of the seventh-generation Golf in a packed calendar of new Volkswagen arrivals. Koeckler refuses to speculate on pricing but confirms the one-car approach for 2013."Our strategy is not to offer every model but to minimize complexity and maintain key volume models across all of our different model lines. The new Beetle will be launched with the 118TSI engine with the choice of either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG transmission. You will have to wait for the launch in February for the final specifications."But what are the chances of a price cut to boost the car's showroom appeal in Australia. "You will have to wait and see," she smiles. The new-new Beetle has already been previewed as a droptop, and a hybrid car, but Koeckler says it's too early to talk about anything beyond the basic car."We have not committed to take the Beetle Convertible. We currently offer two other convertibles in the Golf Cabriolet and Eos and are not planning on adding any more variants for now," she says. "I expect we will see a number of variants to come with the new Beetle. We have already seen some of the special editions released in Europe and we expect there will be even more model to come."But she knows exactly what the Beetle means to her company and it's global slogan 'Das Auto'. "The Beetle is Volkswagen. Our success is tied to the success of the Beetle and how it defined our brand. The Beetle has such a readily recognizable shape and our designers have worked hard to stay true to the original," she says. 

Herbie, the little car that could, has been revived as a limited edition model -- and just like the movie star it can park itself! A new generation Herbie is about to go on sale in Spain with the same colour scheme that made it famous on the silver screen in 1968. The limited edition model comes with the red and blue stripes and includes the number 53 on the bonnet. A unique touch, it gets a badge on its boot that says "Escarabajo", which is Beetle in Spanish. In a neat twist, Volkswagen has equipped the Herbie models with technology that allows the car to park itself. At the press of a button, radar sensors measure the side of an adjacent parking spot and the car manvoures itself into position. All the driver needs to do is control the brake pedal. It also has tyre pressure sensors, so it can check on its own welfare. Unfortunately, Volkswagen Australia says there are no plans to bring the Love Bug to Australia. But the new generation Beetle will be on sale locally from next February.  

The 2012 Australian International Motor Show has been home to the eagerly anticipated new look unveilings for some small cars with the big names.

The city of Atlanta has turned down a request to rename a street Ferdinand Porsche Avenue, because of the Porsche founder’s early association with the Nazis – for whom he designed the ‘volks wagen’ (people’s car) that later became the VW Beetle.The street name request was made as Porsche prepares to build a huge new US headquarters – including a test track -- in Atlanta on the site of a former Ford factory, and wanted the street it’s on renamed from the current Henry Ford II Avenue to Ferdinand Porsche Avenue.To their credit, Porsche has not tried to conceal their founder’s Nazi association in Germany's darkest days, which included him heading up Hitler’s tank commission and designing military vehicles, according to a report on the Atlanta CL website."It is highly regrettable but true that Professor Porsche had some direct contacts with the immoral dictators who ran Germany during those terrible times, as did every other prominent German business leader," a Porsche spokesman is cited as saying in a statement to CL.However the statement also points out the measures the carmaker and its parent company Volkswagen have taken to make amends after the war, including leading the formation of and funding for organisations that made reparations to those who worked as forced labourers, and their surviving families.“Today's Porsche AG, like most major German companies, contributed significantly to those funds. The Volkswagen group of companies has been widely acknowledged by numerous organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, as the world's leader in atoning for those darkest of times," the statement says.Acknowledging the reparation, a compromise will be reached on renaming the street, but it will not bear the name of Ferdinand Porsche. Instead, Atlanta is likely to waive current legislation that bans the use of corporate names (rather than the names of people who founded them), and Henry Ford II Avenue will be renamed to just ‘Porsche Avenue’.