Now available in (Think) Blue: VW reveals the Beetle TDI Clean Diesel at the Chicago Auto Show

Posted on 22 February 2012 by

The Volkswagen Beetle is known for inducing smiles, and the latest addition to the Beetle family is no exception.  This month at the Chicago Auto Show Volkswagen announced that a TDI Clean Diesel model of the 2013 Beetle will be available this Summer.

The 2013 Beetle TDI is the first TDI Clean Diesel Beetle we’ve offered since 2006, but we think you’ll agree that it was worth the wait. It’s the most fuel-efficient Beetle yet, with a predicted fuel economy of 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. Besides its excellent efficiency, what sets this model apart is what’s under the hood.

The Beetle TDI makes the most of Volkswagen’s innovative 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Clean Diesel engine, which puts out 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. That’s great news for your right foot, because all that extra torque equals substantially more responsive driving.

We don’t use the term “Clean Diesel” lightly. Like our other TDI models, the Beetle TDI features an exhaust system with a particulate filter and no less than three catalytic converters: one for oxidation, one for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and one for hydrogen sulfide. For those of you who aren’t chemistry majors, that means that engine emissions are reduced. For that, we can all breathe easier.

The Beetle TDI will be available in three trim levels, including a TDI with Sunroof and a TDI with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation. All three levels are very nicely equipped, with standard features like power windows with one-touch up/down; cruise control; V-Tex Leatherette seating; the Kaeferfach secondary glove box; Bluetooth®; a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with audio controls; three auxiliary gauges; Keyless entry with push-button start; and a Media Device Interface with iPod® cable.

The All-New 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Arrives at Dealerships Nationwide

Posted on 13 October 2011 by

Hundreds of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” fans are among the first to own the all-new Beetle as part of “Ultimate Favorite Things” 2010 giveaway

Herndon, Va. — Volkswagen of America (VWoA) and a number of its dealerships nationwide today welcomed the official arrival of the all-new 2012 Beetle for 276 enthusiastic recipients. Some of the first to own the completely redesigned vehicles will be the lucky fans of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” who have been anticipating this day since “The Oprah Winfrey Show” gifted her audience with, among other fabulous items, free 2012 Beetle vehicles during one of the show’s two “Ultimate Favorite Things” giveaways last year.

Jonathan Browning, president and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc., personally handed keys to the 2012 Beetle to 21 “Ultimate Favorite Things” recipients at the Volkswagen of Orland Park dealership in Orland Park, Ill., this morning. Additional giveaway recipients were met with the sportier Beetle in 125 other Volkswagen dealerships throughout the nation.

The excited recipients brought home the all-new 2.5L 6-speed automatic Beetle. They chose the color of the vehicles from the following options: Denim Blue, Reflex Silver Metallic, Saturn Yellow and Tornado Red.

“The 2012 Beetle is an American icon that has been redesigned to fulfill the needs of the modern driver, while remaining true to its vintage characteristics. It is fully-customizable and is our sportiest, most fuel-efficient Beetle yet,” said Browning. “We are very proud to present a new generation of Beetle owners with a vehicle that is built with no-compromise German engineering, is fun to drive, and will no doubt spark a sense of nostalgia and community that only the Beetle can evoke.”

The new owners learned they were receiving cars on November 22, 2010, when Winfrey revealed the design silhouette of the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and announced, “This is one powerful, sophisticated, sexy Beetle… All of you in this audience will be [among] the first people in the world to own one when it makes its debut next year!”

Redesigned for just the second time in history, the all-new Beetle features a lower, more aggressive stance; is wider for even better handling; and longer for increased interior space. The second skin program allows customers to design a 2012 Beetle with an array of accessories for interior and exterior personalization. Additionally, the all-new Beetle presents consumers with a range of standard and optional technology features, including Bluetooth® technology, iPod® connectivity and the Fender® Premium Audio System.

The 2012 Beetle vehicles are available now with the 2.5L five cylinder engine, which has a starting MSRP of $18,995, and the 2.0L TSI® Turbo engine with a starting MSRP of $23,395.

For more information on the 2012 Beetle models—including pricing, additional trim options, vehicle specifications and images—visit http://media.vw.com/models/beetle.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2012 Volkswagen models come standard-equipped with Electronic Stability Control. This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

 

Our version of home movies: VW catches up with journalists at the Beetle Drive

Posted on 08 August 2011 by

Newsflash, people: these blogs don’t write themselves. Similarly, Facebook doesn’t create posts all on its own and Twitter is not self-tweeting. A lot of work goes into this stuff, so Volkswagen sent their Social Media Team on a much-deserved vacation. And by “vacation,” we mean “work-filled business trip.” (Don’t worry—it’s a labor of love for these folks.)

The team recently had the opportunity to cover the Beetle Drive event in Berlin, Germany, where automotive journalists got to spend two days with the all-new 2012 Beetle and get up close and personal with several other über-cool Beetles from years past. Our team served double duty, manning the cameras and asking journalists what they think of the 2012 Beetle. Watch the videos below to see their responses.

Automotive journalists gather at the Beetle International Drive event in Berlin, Germany to share their thoughts on the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

Automotive journalists at the Beetle International Drive event in Berlin, Germany tell us what about the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle makes them smile.

Automotive journalists at the Beetle International Drive event in Berlin, Germany tell us what about the interior of the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

The all-new 2012 Beetle was the star of the show, but it was far from the only attraction. The event also served as a Beetle family reunion with a 1951 Volkswagen Type 1 and a 2003 Final Edition Beetle making special appearances.

Tell us: what about the 2012 Beetle makes you smile?

What’s the story on the 2012 VW Beetle? Reactions from the New York International Auto Show

Posted on 03 May 2011 by

To celebrate the reveal of the all-new 2012 Beetle, Volkswagen product specialist Danielle Gumro caught up with automotive journalists, VW insiders and auto enthusiasts to find out what they think of the car’s new iconic shape and high-performance features. Because the Beetle has always played a unique role in popular culture, Danielle also asked people to share their Beetle stories (everybody has one, right?).

The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Unveiled. Coming to McKinney.

Posted on 18 April 2011 by

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