2016 Volkswagen New Beetle comes to India at a rather expensive price tag but it is not about practicality, its about being bitten by the love of this bug
2016 Volkswagen Beetle needs no introduction. It has been iconic since the day it was first rolled of the assembly line in Germany. The car was on the want list of all the world leaders and wealthy billionaires. Today after 77 year we see in its new avatar which has the lines and the curves of the old car intact but the design has gone into evolution to make it more attractive to male audience and not just female audience.
A design debate which was done some time back doesn’t need to be discussed today. Volkswagen New Beetle is available in 4 body color options such as Habanero Orange, Oryx White and Tornado Red.
Engine wise in India it has always been one single engine petrol engine option mated to a automatic gearbox. This time we get the 1.4L 150 PS TSI motor that is mated a 7-speed DSG auto box.
Mechanically, the Wheels are 16-inch wheels that comes with a Space-saving spare wheel of 16-inch that have 205 / 60 R16 tyres slapped on them. Suspension is a 4-link rear suspension and the steering is a typical VW Electro mechanical speed-sensitive power steering unit.
Features wise on the exterior you get, Panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, Bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights ( DRL),Front fog lamps with static cornering function, LED License plate lights, Protective side moldings in body color with chrome strip, Rear spoiler, Body-colored door handles, Green heat-insulating glass in side and rear windows.
When it comes to the interior New Beetle comes with “Vienna” leather seats, Mood lighting on front speaker surround, Scuff plates, Carpet mats, front and rear, Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with Multi-function display, audio and telephone controls, Paddle shift, Leather hand brake lever handle and gearshift knob, Door and side trim panel partially in leather, Illuminated vanity mirrors in sun visors and 2 front reading lights.
Safety features include, Driver’s and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation, Combined curtain and side airbags Electronic Stability Control with driver steering recommendation, ABS, ASR, EDL and EDTC, Front underbody guard, ISOFIX- Child seat mounting points, Hill hold control, Electronic immobilizer, Front & rear Park distance control, with acoustic warning and graphical display.
Features set on the New Beetle includes, Climatronic dual-zone auto air-conditioning system, Multi-function display “Plus”, Sound system with 8 speakers USB interface, AUX-IN and Bluetooth connectivity, Instrument cluster with electronic speedometer, odometer, tripmeter and tachometer. Front seats come with height adjustment, Start/stop system with generative braking,Auto-dimming interior mirror, Auto headlamp activation, Rain sensor and Cruise control system.
Last generation Beetle in the country wasn’t impressive to drive and pricing was the same, on the expensive as before. Volkswagen has been serious with the launch this time with the number of pre and post launch event it has planned for the bug. Sources suggest VW has healthly bookings for the New Beetle. Beetle competes with the likes Mini and Fiat 595 in India.
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