VW released photos and some details of the coming convertible
version of the redesigned Beetle coupe that made its debut last year.
The
car will have its official debut at the L.A. Auto Show next month and
is due in showrooms before yearend as a 2013 model. U.S. price is till
TBA -- we'd guess it will come in somewhere more affordable than VW's
hardtop convertible Eos that starts at $34,350
The latest open-air
Beetle -- the company bills it as the third generation Beetle
convertible, after its Type 15 that rolled out in 1949 and the New
Beetle ragtop that arrived in 2003 -- keeps the traditional fabric top
and still folds in baby carriage-style in the rear, though flatter than
the earlier models for better visibility.
It's a power top that VW
says will fold and go in 10 seconds. It also claims room for "four
full-size adults," which we'll wait to see. But the rear-seat has a
split fold-down arrangement that should mean useful carry room.
Volkswagen
also is highlighting the topless car's extra safety gear, most
prominently pop-up roll bars behind the rear seat that are deployed by
the air bag computer. The car also will have standard side air bags that
offer combined head and thorax protection for the front row occupants
VW says the convertible will offer all three engines available in the coupe in the U.S.:
- Base 2.5-liter gasoline five-cylinder (170 hp., 177 lb.-ft. of torque,6-speed automatic)
- 2.0-liter TDI turbo diesel four (140 hp., 236 lb.-ft., 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch automatic)
- 2.0-liter turbo gasoline four (200 hp., 207 lb.-ft., 6-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic)
USA Today