Volkswagen is just days away from launching the third generation Beetle in India. To be launched around 20th of December 2015, the Beetle is a modern take on the original ‘people’s car’ and it promises to offer a stylish two-door with loads of nostalgic value.
In terms of styling, VW seems to have done a good job and the car looks well balanced and proportioned. A round theme dominates the exterior with the bonnet, roofline and the flared wheel arches forming semicircles. On the inside, is VW has tried to make it a modern classic with an old style glovebox and the three round dials on top of the dash showing turbo-boost and other ancillaries. It will be quite well equipped too, with a touchscreen, climate control and VW’s park assist. The Beetle is available only in two-door form and will come with four seats and a 310-litre boot.
The new Beetle will be powered by a 1390cc turbocharged petrol engine which is good for 147bhp and it will be coupled to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Although it will have the least amount of power as compared to the Cooper S and the 595, it promises to deliver a more comfortable and usable experience.
Whilst we are getting the new Beetle now, it was launched internationally in 2011. As a result, there will be a mild facelift version coming out next year which we won’t get here anytime soon. According to VW, the facelift is going to be a minor update and the current car will sell unchanged in India, at least till 2017. We expect the new Beetle to cost around Rs 30 lakh which puts it bang in the middle of the Mini Cooper and the Fiat Abarth 595 Competizione as far as price is concerned.
