I guess you all are aware of the word ‘Retro’. It means to bring a new product in an old style. A retro product is a new and modern product but the original style is borrowed from past. If you ask me, the best retro product presently is the Volkswagen Beetle. The original Beetle is from an old era of 1938 which is now brought up by the company with its Retro version.
If you love retro items, you better buy a new Volkswagen Beetle. You will feel the pride of getting compliments only after owning the Volkswagen Beetle. Volkswagen presented and sold the previous incarnation of Beetle from 1999 to 2011. This new incarnation went extremely successful and was taken as homage of the original Beetle. However the users felt that there was a great room of improvement in the car ergonomically.
The New Volkswagen Beetle
The new Beetle is designed on the basis of the very first design of original Beetle. The designers and developers were given a complete freedom to explore their creativity in designing the new Volkswagen Beetle.
When completed with the new design, the best compliment the car was that ‘The new Beetle replicates the elegance of Porsche 911’. Let’s now discuss about pros and cons in features of new Volkswagen Beetle.
Space in Volkswagen Beetle (Not best)
The cabin space in the new Beetle is used very effectively. All the necessary mechanics are fitted under the skin very efficiently by the developers. The boot in the car is turned bigger and also made easily accessible. The huge back door is also one of the most admired features.
But I must tell you here that the legroom and the headroom in the back is not improved. The alteration is done only in the front space of the car. Though the developers have given many options of alteration in steering wheel and the driving seat but the ideal sitting position is still not attained. Some reviews say that the front seat and the steering wheel have been placed under a discomfited corner.
As it is considered as the retro model of Volkswagen Beetle the entre cabin is designed according to the original design. The Dashboard of Beetle is given the car color. The steering wheel of Beetle is also kept thinner and bigger as in the old era cars.
All the dials of the new Beetle are obsolete and large. The fuel gauge is also kept much bigger and detailed as compared to the average ones. You can now drive your Beetle to the last drop of your fuel now.
The designers gave a tiny glove section on the upper half of the dashboard. The lid of this small section is also given the outer tint of the car. This is what is exactly same to the original last century Beetle. The décor lovers may however miss the characteristic vase in the new retro Beetle. If you love the storage space in the dashboard, there is a second glove box also offering a good storage space.
Luxury of Volkswagen Beetle 2012
Designers have done their best to justify the word Retro here. The 2012 Beetle car has all the luxuries that a person would seek in a modern day car. Some of the luxurious items of 2012 Beetle include navigation and communication system, Volkswagen audio, Bluetooth compatibility and a steering control.
Some other features included in the Retro Beetle 2012 are a dual zone climate control and park distance control. It also has new style headlights which activate automatically in the dark.
In spite of trying their best the designers missed some basic technicalities which Volkswagen is supposed to provide. The new Beetle 2012 has no cameras to read the road markings and traffic signs which is definitely a big glitch. A few major misses include unavailability of automatic brakes and the feature of parking itself.
Engine of 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen has been known for making the most innovative engines but the retro model is not boasting the modern and innovative hybrid engine. Volkswagen has fitted the best technology engine which is both frugal and strong. The engine in Beetle 2012 is the best combination of low emissions and high performance.
This strong engine develops great power of 105 PS / 175 Nm and it certainly goes to the “Beetle 1.2 TSI”. This great engine fitted in the bonnet of Beetle 2012 gives an ecstatic and calm drive with fast moving traffic and also can easily and safely merge with the slow traffic. The engine of new Beetle gives 50.4 miles in one gallon petrol.
The very small glitch is that it lacks stop/start system which may not give a fuel economy in heavy traffic. However, if compared with the original old Beetle it is still great.
Handling of New Beetle Volkswagen
The new Beetle is quite easy to handle as compared to the ancient Beetle with a rear engine. The handling is improved greatly as compared to the old one. The ancient Beetle was heavy but the new retro Beetle is agile and light which makes it easy to handle. The tires of this new retro converted Beetle are calm.
Cardekhi Conclusion
Volkswagen is best at making a retro car and it is proved with its all new Retro Volkswagen Beetle. It has the looks of the original Beetle and outfitted with the latest technologies of any modern mid-sized car. When someone book a retro car, all he/she looks for is fun and elegance and the Volkswagen Beetle 2012 meets all the demands effectually. Beetle drives great with all the safety and luxury features. It is an exotic car which offers a unique charm of a retro model.
