Quick: in five seconds, pick the most iconic Volkswagen model ever. Done? Good. Yes, the correct answer is The Beetle. If you said anything else, you’re either fooling yourself by saying GTI or trying to sound clever by throwing out Veyron. Just get out, seriously. Want my point to be cemented? 60 years ago, they just called this car “Volkswagen.” So when they release a new one, the world pays attention.
Three models. That’s what we’re up to in sixty some-odd years. My grandfather, a tank commander during the war (the occupied side) had one. A white one he called “Fritz.” I had one, a black one that earned a slew of nicknames over the course of its lifetime, as I did for driving it. That one came out in 1998. The Beetle is just now emerging in its third incarnation 14 years after the last. 14 years. We’ve had four different Mustangs in that time.
Beyond the heritage, the quirky German coupe is back with a whole slew of new designs and improvements. The arch-like shape of the previous model, or “New Beetle” was a big emphasis in the design. In the latest one, the roofline harkens back to the original, sloping longer in the rear, while the front stays mainly the same, save for the golf-like intake and indicator grille. The previous turbo had a speed activated mini lip of a spoiler that emerged when you drive around 80 mph, but in is one, a fixed wing comes standard, affixed to the rear hatch.
I climbed into the new new Beetle expecting my sense of nostalgia to be constantly pinged by various little nuances, like the mile-long dash and turbo spinning noises, but none of that came to mind. Nothing of the latest Beetle reminded me of the previous one, apart from the front, and that’s more like a family resemblance than anything. The 2012 Beetle’s 2.0 liter i4 puts out 200 hp, and has a sporty punch that surprises and delights. The exhaust note is throatier, the coupe is very nimble, and the steering is quite solid. Clipping around some windy rural roads was enjoyable; although I felt as thought I should be on my way to the mall for some loafing about or buying whatever mediums contain music these days. The experience, as a whole, however, wasn’t particularly compelling or memorable. Better than it used to be, this much is true, but putting that aside, the ride was a high average.
The interior felt spacious and comfortable for two people, and the back seat looked manageable as well. Among the carbon fibre dash was a full color navigation and entertainment console, while controls all about the steering wheel regulated most needs. The interior was accented by panels that matched the exterior, and while we’ve seen that before, and have been displeased by it, this wasn’t as prominent in the Beetle as we’ve seen in other cars.
I’d love to say that the 2012 Beetle has re-ignited some lost emotion within me. Like when you’ve run into an ex-girlfriend, sometimes you’re fueled by a twister of emotions, compelled by curiosity to find out how they’ve gotten on throughout the years. But in this case, I’ve had my closure, I’ve moved on, and while I’m glad she’s fitter and doing better than ever, I don’t really feel the need to find out more. The Beetle Turbo starts at $23,395, but with navigation, sound and sunroof, as we had, it climbs up to $27,995. Find out more specs at vw.com.
Words By – Alex Kalogiannis
Photos By – Jon Rouzier
