Introducing the new VW Beetle Convertible. Love it? Or would you sooner drive a a classic Bug?
The 2013 Beetle Convertible will make its American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show late next month. But the company just gave us all a sneak peek with photos released today.
The new Beetle Convertible is the third generation of the VW ragtop, following the type 15 from 1949 and the 2003 model. This go-round, designers opted for a sportier silhouette with a flatter roofline and a more upright windshield. The ragtop roof stows fully in just 10 seconds and lays completely flat, making for clear rear visibility. And the car has an automatic rollover support system with two computer-actuated bars behind the rear seat that pop up in just four milliseconds in the event of a collision.
Under the hood, buyers can opt for one of three engines: A a 2.5-liter five-cylinder good for 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission; A 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque that can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox; and a 2.0 turbo-diesel four-cylinder good for 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque that can be bolted to a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG.
Despite its dubious beginnings as an Adolf Hitler-ordered “people’s car” designed by none other than Ferdinand Porsche in the 1930s, the Volkswagen Beetle has enjoyed icon status and maintained much of its familiar shape over the decades. Film appearances have included Disney’s The Love Bug, Woody Allen’s Sleeper, Death Race 2000 (1974) and the 1984 TV series The Transformers.
So what do you think, E3 Spark Plugs fans? Do you love the new VW Beetle convertible or would you still opt for one of the classics?
