2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation
Base Price: $29,865
As-Tested Price: $29,865
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed dual-clutch sequential manual
Output: 200 hp @ 5,100 rpm, 207 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,089 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/23.3 mpg
Options: None
The new car also eschews the quirky bud vase for a usable upper dash tray, which seems to be a far better use of interior real estate. I'd still like VW's interior folks to at least consider adding extenders to the sun visors, however. And while the Fender audio system rocks, the odd interface seems as if it could take some getting used to.
Under it all, at least in the Turbo model, is a screaming powertrain that loves to rev and shifts with authority. The chassis is dialed in to keep the body under control and the tires planted, without being overly harsh on the hard bumps. It's a happy medium.
For those still whining that VW lost its way when it didn't bring back a proper rear-engined Beetle, I get it. But as someone who owned one of those air-cooled, barely heated underpowered go-karts back in the day, I'd prefer this super new Beetle any day. It's a hoot.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation
Base Price: $29,865
As-Tested Price: $29,865
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed dual-clutch sequential manual
Output: 200 hp @ 5,100 rpm, 207 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,089 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/23.3 mpg
Options: None
The new car also eschews the quirky bud vase for a usable upper dash tray, which seems to be a far better use of interior real estate. I'd still like VW's interior folks to at least consider adding extenders to the sun visors, however. And while the Fender audio system rocks, the odd interface seems as if it could take some getting used to.
Under it all, at least in the Turbo model, is a screaming powertrain that loves to rev and shifts with authority. The chassis is dialed in to keep the body under control and the tires planted, without being overly harsh on the hard bumps. It's a happy medium.
For those still whining that VW lost its way when it didn't bring back a proper rear-engined Beetle, I get it. But as someone who owned one of those air-cooled, barely heated underpowered go-karts back in the day, I'd prefer this super new Beetle any day. It's a hoot.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
This is the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, as first revealed in simultaneous presentations at the New York and Shanghai motor shows in April. It goes on sale in September in the U.S. market. Pricing is yet to be announced, but expect a moderate increase to accompany increased levels of standard equipment.
Gone is the New Beetle name. Now it's just the Beetle--as it probably should have been when Volkswagen finally got around to replacing the original after a production run of 21.5 million back in 1997. Gone, too, is the traditional flower vase perched atop the dashboard--a victim, it seems, of Volkswagen's efforts to provide the latest iteration of the Beetle with a more aggressive air.
With a bolder exterior design, larger dimensions, an extensively reworked interior, greater space, more contemporary underpinnings and a range of more powerful engines--including a turbocharged, 200-hp four-cylinder displacing 2.0 liters, Volkswagen hopes to attract a greater number of male buyers.
As expected, the Beetle sits on a more contemporary front-wheel-drive platform than the 14-year-old-model it replaces. In a move aimed at broadening appeal, Volkswagen also gave the new Beetle a wider range of engines than those offered on its direct predecessor.
The engine lineup will be the 2.5-liter five cylinder making 170 hp, the 2.0-liter diesel (140 hp, available in 2012) and the 2.0-liter four-banger (200 hp). Other variants will be offered around the world.
From an exterior-design standpoint, the Beetle impresses. From the very first glance, you're aware that more time and thought has gone into perfecting its appearance than with its predecessor. There is a maturity to the exterior styling that was lacking with the old Beetle, which came across as being almost cartoonlike from certain angles and which was always considered an odd pastiche of the original 1938 model.
2012 Volkswagen Eos Komfort
I really dislike labeling a car masculine or feminine, but I really came away feeling that this 2012 Volkswagen Eos is a perfect car for a female. Maybe it has to do with all the rounded, curvy styling features and the lack of any real excitement when you step on the throttle. Maybe a manual gearbox would help give the Eos a more sporting attitude?
The top operation is straightforward, but without any rear wind deflector, there was quite a bit of movement from back to front. The pop-up front deflector does make quite a bit of difference in the amount of wind that buffets front-seat passengers.The interior design is simple, with plenty of legroom up front. Materials and the fit and finish are typical VW high quality. There's very little wind and road noise with the hardtop up, which I doubt would be the case with a conventional soft top.
On the road, the Eos handles well, but I wouldn't be against a little more power from the turbocharged four-cylinder to add to the fun factor. As Roger said, a manual gearbox may help give the car a more spirited feel.
2012 Volkswagen Eos Komfort
Base Price: $34,765
As-Tested Price: $34,765
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed dual-clutch sequential manual
Output: 200 hp @ 5,100-6,000 rpm, 207 lb-ft @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,569 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/24.8 mpg
Options: None
2012 Volkswagen CC Lux Limited
Here we have a stylish, coupelike German four-seat sedan, but this 2012 Volkswagen CC Lux Limited only carries a $35,485 price tag. When you look at it that way, the sticker isn't so shocking compared with what you'd have to spend to get a similar model from one of the German luxury brands. That's not to say that the CC is a direct competitor to the Audi A7 or the Mercedes-Benz CLS by any stretch, but for those shopping the genre, the VW is a reasonable and considerably less expensive alternative.
I love the ripping yet refined 2.0-liter turbo, and the chassis is set up for serious handling. Set it into a corner, and the car tracks beautifully from one end of the arc to the other, even if you add throttle en route. The car is seriously well planted, especially for a front-driver.
Inside, the CC is as elegant as you're going to get without upgrading to a luxury car, with four picture-perfect bucket seats beckoning occupants. Everything here is comfortable and close at hand, with an excellent driving position.
Is $35,000 too much for a VW? Maybe, but it's not bad for a car of this type that is this well done.
My favorite cars to review are the ones I'd seriously (and realistically) consider calling my own. The CC has been on my radar since it was launched, and I've always thought it an attractive car inside and out for a reasonable price. After spending an evening in the loaded CC Lux Limited, I'm no less enthusiastic about the car, but I have a better sense about the trim I'd select.
The turbocharged four gives this sedan plenty of grunt, with its modest output enhanced by a torque curve that masks its displacement. As for the DSG gearbox, I could take it or leave it. Shifts were exceptionally quick, but the initial clutch takeup can still be awkward at low speeds, and there's an occasional moment of confusion when the throttle is hammered. No sport mode or paddle-shifting provisions further diminished my enthusiasm, but it was still worlds better than the PowerShift unit in our recent Ford Focus.
Inside, the CC is gorgeous. The combination of cream and black trim in our tester looks classy and feels comfortable, and the switchgear has a solid feel that competes with the best German sedans. Getting in and out of the CC was somewhat compromised, though, as would be expected from the coupe roofline. Note, too, that you'll be seeking wide parking spaces if you use the rear seats. That pinched rear-door trailing edge is a door-ding weapon par excellence.
For the technophile, our CC had a multifunction navigation/Sirius XM/iPod head unit that competes with the best of them. It's one of the few infotainment systems that worked pretty much exactly as I expected it to when I connected my devices, and it rivals the Honda/Acura system for intuitive design from my perspective.
Back to my "personal" CC: Were I currently in the market, I'd save a few thousand and opt for a CC R-Line with leatherette and a six-speed manual. At an MSRP of less than $32,000, it's more of a bargain Audi than anyone at either company would likely care to admit.
2013 Volkswagen Jetta hybrid bows at the Detroit auto show
Volkswagen is presenting one of its most fuel-efficient vehicles at the Detroit auto show, the 2013 Jetta hybrid. VW says the car gets 45 mpg combined and will be able to hit speeds of 44 mph on electric power alone.
The Jetta hybrid will be motivated by a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine developing 150 hp, while the electric motor adds 27 hp. The unit puts out 184 lb-ft of twist and weighs in at just 216 pounds. On hard acceleration, both engine and battery combine to make 170 hp. Power is transferred through VW's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which was downsized for this application to 163 pounds.
A 220-volt, 1.1-kilowatt-hour, lithium-ion battery behind the rear seat supplies energy to the motor. It consists of 60 individual cells with a combined energy capacity of five amp hours. A fan is mounted to the battery for cooling. It also has its own management system that performs safety, diagnostic and monitoring functions and temperature management.
Regenerative braking is part of the efficiency package. It feeds kinetic energy back to the battery when the brakes are applied. It works even more efficiently with the dual-clutch because the transmission is decoupled immediately after the gas pedal is released. Instead of the car using the engine, transmission and brakes to slow, all of the work is put on the regenerative system.
Not only is the transmission decoupled, but at a stoplight or even when cruising, the motor can shut off completely. Accessories stay on using battery power even when the engine goes into stop mode. When the brake is released or the gas pedal is depressed, the engine kicks back on.
All of the relevant hybrid information is displayed on the instrument cluster, including an energy-flow diagram, battery-charge state and ePower meter. The ePower is active only in electric driving and boost mode. The ePower meter replaces the tach on the left side of the instrument cluster and informs the driver of the operating state of the Jetta. The states are Ready, a general readiness to drive; Charge, battery regeneration; Eco, eco-conscious driving mode; Boost, boosting; or Off, when driving with the internal-combustion engine alone.
To add more mpgs, the Jetta hybrid gets a new front airdam, a rear diffuser and an integrated rear spoiler. As a result, the hybrid's coefficient of drag is 10 percent lower than that of a stock Jetta. Low-rolling-resistance tires are wrapped around 15-inch alloy wheels.
There's also a different radiator grille with a VW logo, integrated on a blue background for the first time. Hybrid signatures will adorn the grille, front fenders and rear deck.
The 2013 Jetta hybrid will launch in North America at the end of 2012. Pricing information isn't available but expect it to come in at about the same price of the small hybrid sedans.
Gone is the New Beetle name. Now it's just the Beetle--as it probably should have been when Volkswagen finally got around to replacing the original after a production run of 21.5 million back in 1997. Gone, too, is the traditional flower vase perched atop the dashboard--a victim, it seems, of Volkswagen's efforts to provide the latest iteration of the Beetle with a more aggressive air.
With a bolder exterior design, larger dimensions, an extensively reworked interior, greater space, more contemporary underpinnings and a range of more powerful engines--including a turbocharged, 200-hp four-cylinder displacing 2.0 liters, Volkswagen hopes to attract a greater number of male buyers.
As expected, the Beetle sits on a more contemporary front-wheel-drive platform than the 14-year-old-model it replaces. In a move aimed at broadening appeal, Volkswagen also gave the new Beetle a wider range of engines than those offered on its direct predecessor.
The engine lineup will be the 2.5-liter five cylinder making 170 hp, the 2.0-liter diesel (140 hp, available in 2012) and the 2.0-liter four-banger (200 hp). Other variants will be offered around the world.
From an exterior-design standpoint, the Beetle impresses. From the very first glance, you're aware that more time and thought has gone into perfecting its appearance than with its predecessor. There is a maturity to the exterior styling that was lacking with the old Beetle, which came across as being almost cartoonlike from certain angles and which was always considered an odd pastiche of the original 1938 model.
2012 Volkswagen Eos Komfort
I really dislike labeling a car masculine or feminine, but I really came away feeling that this 2012 Volkswagen Eos is a perfect car for a female. Maybe it has to do with all the rounded, curvy styling features and the lack of any real excitement when you step on the throttle. Maybe a manual gearbox would help give the Eos a more sporting attitude?
The top operation is straightforward, but without any rear wind deflector, there was quite a bit of movement from back to front. The pop-up front deflector does make quite a bit of difference in the amount of wind that buffets front-seat passengers.The interior design is simple, with plenty of legroom up front. Materials and the fit and finish are typical VW high quality. There's very little wind and road noise with the hardtop up, which I doubt would be the case with a conventional soft top.
On the road, the Eos handles well, but I wouldn't be against a little more power from the turbocharged four-cylinder to add to the fun factor. As Roger said, a manual gearbox may help give the car a more spirited feel.
2012 Volkswagen Eos Komfort
Base Price: $34,765
As-Tested Price: $34,765
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; FWD, six-speed dual-clutch sequential manual
Output: 200 hp @ 5,100-6,000 rpm, 207 lb-ft @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,569 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 25/24.8 mpg
Options: None
2012 Volkswagen CC Lux Limited
Here we have a stylish, coupelike German four-seat sedan, but this 2012 Volkswagen CC Lux Limited only carries a $35,485 price tag. When you look at it that way, the sticker isn't so shocking compared with what you'd have to spend to get a similar model from one of the German luxury brands. That's not to say that the CC is a direct competitor to the Audi A7 or the Mercedes-Benz CLS by any stretch, but for those shopping the genre, the VW is a reasonable and considerably less expensive alternative.
I love the ripping yet refined 2.0-liter turbo, and the chassis is set up for serious handling. Set it into a corner, and the car tracks beautifully from one end of the arc to the other, even if you add throttle en route. The car is seriously well planted, especially for a front-driver.
Inside, the CC is as elegant as you're going to get without upgrading to a luxury car, with four picture-perfect bucket seats beckoning occupants. Everything here is comfortable and close at hand, with an excellent driving position.
Is $35,000 too much for a VW? Maybe, but it's not bad for a car of this type that is this well done.
My favorite cars to review are the ones I'd seriously (and realistically) consider calling my own. The CC has been on my radar since it was launched, and I've always thought it an attractive car inside and out for a reasonable price. After spending an evening in the loaded CC Lux Limited, I'm no less enthusiastic about the car, but I have a better sense about the trim I'd select.
The turbocharged four gives this sedan plenty of grunt, with its modest output enhanced by a torque curve that masks its displacement. As for the DSG gearbox, I could take it or leave it. Shifts were exceptionally quick, but the initial clutch takeup can still be awkward at low speeds, and there's an occasional moment of confusion when the throttle is hammered. No sport mode or paddle-shifting provisions further diminished my enthusiasm, but it was still worlds better than the PowerShift unit in our recent Ford Focus.
Inside, the CC is gorgeous. The combination of cream and black trim in our tester looks classy and feels comfortable, and the switchgear has a solid feel that competes with the best German sedans. Getting in and out of the CC was somewhat compromised, though, as would be expected from the coupe roofline. Note, too, that you'll be seeking wide parking spaces if you use the rear seats. That pinched rear-door trailing edge is a door-ding weapon par excellence.
For the technophile, our CC had a multifunction navigation/Sirius XM/iPod head unit that competes with the best of them. It's one of the few infotainment systems that worked pretty much exactly as I expected it to when I connected my devices, and it rivals the Honda/Acura system for intuitive design from my perspective.
Back to my "personal" CC: Were I currently in the market, I'd save a few thousand and opt for a CC R-Line with leatherette and a six-speed manual. At an MSRP of less than $32,000, it's more of a bargain Audi than anyone at either company would likely care to admit.
2013 Volkswagen Jetta hybrid bows at the Detroit auto show
Volkswagen is presenting one of its most fuel-efficient vehicles at the Detroit auto show, the 2013 Jetta hybrid. VW says the car gets 45 mpg combined and will be able to hit speeds of 44 mph on electric power alone.
The Jetta hybrid will be motivated by a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine developing 150 hp, while the electric motor adds 27 hp. The unit puts out 184 lb-ft of twist and weighs in at just 216 pounds. On hard acceleration, both engine and battery combine to make 170 hp. Power is transferred through VW's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which was downsized for this application to 163 pounds.
A 220-volt, 1.1-kilowatt-hour, lithium-ion battery behind the rear seat supplies energy to the motor. It consists of 60 individual cells with a combined energy capacity of five amp hours. A fan is mounted to the battery for cooling. It also has its own management system that performs safety, diagnostic and monitoring functions and temperature management.
Regenerative braking is part of the efficiency package. It feeds kinetic energy back to the battery when the brakes are applied. It works even more efficiently with the dual-clutch because the transmission is decoupled immediately after the gas pedal is released. Instead of the car using the engine, transmission and brakes to slow, all of the work is put on the regenerative system.
Not only is the transmission decoupled, but at a stoplight or even when cruising, the motor can shut off completely. Accessories stay on using battery power even when the engine goes into stop mode. When the brake is released or the gas pedal is depressed, the engine kicks back on.
All of the relevant hybrid information is displayed on the instrument cluster, including an energy-flow diagram, battery-charge state and ePower meter. The ePower is active only in electric driving and boost mode. The ePower meter replaces the tach on the left side of the instrument cluster and informs the driver of the operating state of the Jetta. The states are Ready, a general readiness to drive; Charge, battery regeneration; Eco, eco-conscious driving mode; Boost, boosting; or Off, when driving with the internal-combustion engine alone.
To add more mpgs, the Jetta hybrid gets a new front airdam, a rear diffuser and an integrated rear spoiler. As a result, the hybrid's coefficient of drag is 10 percent lower than that of a stock Jetta. Low-rolling-resistance tires are wrapped around 15-inch alloy wheels.
There's also a different radiator grille with a VW logo, integrated on a blue background for the first time. Hybrid signatures will adorn the grille, front fenders and rear deck.
The 2013 Jetta hybrid will launch in North America at the end of 2012. Pricing information isn't available but expect it to come in at about the same price of the small hybrid sedans.
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