Why the Beetle is Volkswagen’s most popular car

THE 2014 Beetle is the third generation of the world’s most recognized “People’s Car.”

BLACK racing stripes and a rear spoiler enhance the new sporty image. PHOTOS BY AIDA SEVILLA-MENDOZA

The Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini) aims to become the world’s largest automaker and is targeting global sales of 10 million vehicles a year by 2018.  Of these 10 million, 800,000 will bear the Volkswagen badge, according to a report in The International New York Times.

Without doubt, one of the most popular VW models will play a major role in making that ambitious dream come true: the iconic Beetle.  Twenty one million five hundred thousand units of the Beetle, according to Ayala Automotive Holdings, the Philippine distributor of the Volkswagen Group, were sold worldwide from its first production in 1939 up to 1997.

In 1998, the second generation, the New Beetle, was introduced with roundish lines that appealed mostly to females.  Although it came to be known as a “chick car,” more than one million units were sold by the time that the Final Edition of the New Beetle Series appeared in 2010.  The first Beetle was so loved and so fondly remembered all over the world that every new iteration of it would surely sell briskly.

DURABLE. Everyone has a lovingly remembered Beetle tale to tell and that includes me.  My  father owned a Beetle as a second car and drove it himself to the Manila Golf Club on weekends. After he passed away and the Beetle was sold, the buyer drove it up to Baguio without having to subject it to any major repair—it was that durable.  In my case, when I was a young matron a century or so ago, a 1.5-liter Beetle gasoline engine with twin Weber carburetors powered my dune buggy. (In those days, the Beetle’s engine was housed behind the back seat.)

Now comes the third generation Beetle, deliberately designed to look more masculine, more sporty and more muscular than the New Beetle but still somehow harking back to the contours and profile of the beloved original.  Brimming with the latest driver assistance and road safety technologies, the 2014 Bug is a refreshed version of the third gen car that was launched in Europe for the 2012 model year.

INSIDE, a color-keyed dash and six-speed manual transmission

The third generation Beetle is a three-door hatchback that is lower, wider and longer, thanks to an increased wheelbase and wider track. It is also roomier, with generous headroom and legroom, and its trunk has a capacity of 210 liters.  The test unit I drove during a recent weekend turned heads maybe because it looked stunning with its red body paint, the wide black racing stripes on its hood and back and the rear spoiler.  Or maybe because it evoked nostalgia and brought back fond memories.

TEUTONIC STEEL. The first time I took the wheel, I found the 2014 Beetle rather heavy to steer due to the solid Teutonic steel of its structure. But surprisingly, in tight city traffic it proved to be nimble and swift, more so on the Skyway where it accelerated with ease to overtake slow vehicles.   It was engaging to row through the Beetle’s six-speed manual transmission and be assisted by its well-weighted electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering. The 1.2 TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) four-cylinder inline gasoline engine produces  103.56 horsepower at 4500 revolutions per minute and 175 Newton-meters max torque at 1400 rpm.

Direct fuel injection and turbo enhance the Bug’s performance. Volkswagen claims that its state-of-the-art TSI petrol engines stand out for their low fuel consumption, strong pulling power and high torque from low revs.  TSI engines satisfy the most exacting requirements while maximizing driving pleasure by combining the positive qualities of direct-injection diesel and petrol engines, Volkswagen technicians say.

Aside from an Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), the Beetle is equipped with stabilizers fore and aft on its front MacPherson strut and four-link rear suspension. “Whirl” 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights with separate daytime running lights, folding exterior mirrors with integrated side turn lights and a black side protective molding complete the sporty image.

TAUT COMFORT. Inside, an infotainment display screen, electronic meters (speedo, tach, odo and trip), leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, handbrake lever and gearshift knob plus stereo system with eight speakers dominate the scene. The taut riding comfort, excellent fit and finish and solid build quality of the Beetle attest to its strong German pedigree. The suite of safety features includes six airbags, the aforementioned ESP, Hill Hold Control, Antilock Brake System (ABS) with Brake Assistant, central locking with radio remote control, safety-optimized headrests, brake pad wear indicator, seatbelt reminder, standard pedestrian protection, Isofix child seat anchors, an eight-channel Park Distance Control with acoustic warning signal and 15-inch front and rear disc brakes.

Summing up, the 2014 Beetle is a most worthy successor to the original generation that became the world’s most famous, most recognized and most beloved car. At P1.59 million, it is mobility in memory of tradition, heritage and good times long past, yet has the cutting-edge technologies to advance you to the future.