Lawyer and Retired Cop in Ties Get Into a Road Rage Fight in LA

While a fight is never a funny thing, you'll forgive us for chuckling at the sight of two dressed-up Los Angeles men in their silver-hair years trying to throw punches at each other, but at the same time, needing help to get up from the road...

YouTube author Jessica Breuer captured the road-rage fight on film. This is what she wrote about the incident: "Two men in ties fighting in the street. The guy with the short hair flew out of his car and started beating the crap out of the other guy."

Read more »

VW Sends 100 Examples of Limited Run Beetle GSR to the UK

Adding to the many Volkswagen Group-related news coming out this week (thanks to the ongoing Wörthersee Tour), there's a little something that concerns British consumers, as the German brand announced today that it will ship 100 examples of its new Beetle GSR special edition model to the country out of a worldwide total of 3,500 units. Read more »

VW Beetle Turbo and Jetta GLI Get New 2.0-liter TSI Unit, Gain 10 HP and Light Updates

VW has introduced its new, Mexico-made EA888 Gen 4 2.0-liter turbocharged TSI engine to the Beetle Turbo, Beetle Turbo Convertible and Jetta GLI. The new unit is slightly more powerful while also posting improved fuel efficiency of up to eight percent on the combined cycle.

Produced in a new plant in Silao, Mexico, the new VW engine develops 210 horsepower, an increase of 10 horsepower over the previous Gen 2 TSI unit. Peak power is generated 200 rpm higher in the engine range, at 5,300 rpm, with torque remaining the same at 207 lb-ft (280 Nm).

Read more »

Volkswagen Falls Into the iFad with New iBeetle, Debuts in Shanghai

If you love marketing-driven spins on products, then you'll like what Volkswagen came up with for its retro-styled Beetle compact car. Enter the new iBeetle Edition that's set for a global premiere at the Auto China 2013 in Shanghai this weekend. You don't have to be an Apple-junkie to understand the meaning behind the name, but the result might leave you puzzled.

According to the German automaker, the iBeetle is the first model line from the entire VW Group [sic] "in which the iPhone will become an integrated component". What this means in practical terms is that the iBeetle hatch and iBeetle Convertible are offered with a special app and an Apple iPhone docking station. No really, that's all it is…

Read more »

Skydiver Jumps into VW Beetle Convertible from Plane for Promo

The ways in which manufacturers promote their cars vary greatly, and when they go all-out and do their own ad campaign for one model, then you know they’re serious and are going to pull out all the stops. For instance, VW has launched the "As Sun As Possible" campaign for the new Beetle Cabriolet, which talks about the stories of "six sun seekers," while also showing off the car. Read more »

1947 VW Beetle-Based V2 Sagitta is More Aerodynamic than New Golf, Mercedes CLA!

Can you imagine a 24-hp car that could reach a top speed of 140 km/h (87mph)? If you think such a performance is hard to achieve now, imagine what it was like in the 1940s. Because the car we’re talking about was developed toward the end of World War II by a German engineer by the name of Kurt Volkhart.

In the early 1940s he started work on streamlined versions of VW’s Typ-60 Beetle, as he wanted to explore Baron von König-Fachsenfeld’s aerodynamics studies. This is how the “V2 Sagitta” project was born.

Read more »

Chicago Auto Show: VW Adds Beetle Convertible R-Line to its U.S. Line-Up

After the CC, Beetle coupe, Tiguan and Touareg, the Beetle Convertible will be the fifth model to join VW’s R-Line range in the U.S. market.

The 2014 Beetle Convertible R-Line, which was unveiled today at the Chicago Auto Show, is based on the 200HP Turbo model and comes with a long list of extra equipment.

Read more »

Limited Edition VW Beetle GSR Sports 208HP, will Debut at Chicago Auto Show

The VW Beetle is, in itself, a retro-inspired car and makes no apologies for it. Thus resurrecting das Gelb Schwarzer Renner, German for “Yellow/Black Racer”, GSR for short, that debuted 40 years ago as the sportiest Beetle of all times is quite understandable. Read more »

VW Confirms New Scirocco GTS and Beetle Fender Edition for the UK

The New Year will bring two special edition models to Volkswagen's UK showrooms, the spicier looking Scirocco GTS and the…spicier sounding Beetle Fender, both of which have been presented in these pages as they're already offered in other markets. Both cars will be available for order in the UK on January 2. Read more »

New 2013 VW Beetle Convertible Makes Motor Show Debut in LA, Starts at $24,995 [w/Video]

If you live in Europe, you've probably seen the new 2013 Beetle Convertible as it is already offered for sale, but on this side of the pond, the open-top Volkswagen just received its North American premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where the German carmaker also announced pricing. Read more »

2012-2013MY Volkswagen Beetle Recalled in the States for AirBag Fault

Close to 2,500 owners of certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats, will be receiving a recall letter from Volkswagen. Read more »

VW Gets Exclusive with Beetle Coupe and Cabriolet Special Edition Models

It's only been a week since the new generation of the Beetle Cabriolet went on sale in Germany, but Volkswagen has already cooked up a special edition package called "Exclusive", designed by its Volkswagen R GmbH division, which will be offered on the coupe as well.

There are two versions of the Exclusive package available for buyers of the Beetle and Beetle Cabriolet, one based on the "Sport" equipment line and the other on the "Design" grade.

Read more »

Volkswagen's New Beetle Convertible Goes on Sale in Germany, Fresh Photos Released

It's not the most appropriate time of the year weather-wise to launch a convertible model in the Northern hemisphere, but nevertheless, Volkswagen has released pricing and is accepting orders for the open-top version of the latest Beetle in its home market of Germany, with more European countries to follow.

The new Beetle Convertible has a starting price of €21,350 (equal to US$27,100) for the base model with the 1.2-liter TSI petrol engine that produces 104hp (105PS), rising to €27,950 (US$35,500) for the 138hp (140PS) 2.0-liter TDI diesel connected to a dual-clutch DSG transmission.

Read more »

Herbie Goes to Spain with a Special Edition Version of New Volkswagen Beetle

Special or limited editions are a speedy and cost efficient way for automakers to create some marketing buzz around one of their models and increase sales. More often than not, all it takes is a few cosmetic touches and added equipment features, and presto; your special edition is served.

One such example is the new Volkswagen Beetle Edition 53, a special edition model made exclusively for Spain that pays tribute to Walt Disney Pictures' "Herbie" character, which first appeared on film in 1968 with "The Love Bug" that spawned several sequels over the years.

Read more »

Fender Brings the Music to New VW Beetle Special Edition, Priced from $24,440*

Volkswagen has released U.S. pricing for its new 2013 Beetle Fender Edition that will arrive in dealerships across the country at the beginning of November with a choice of two engines.

The base model is equipped with VW's 170-horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit and is priced at $24,440 with the manual gearbox and $25,540 with the automatic, while those looking for more oomph can opt for the 200-horsepower 2.0-liter TSI Turbo model that starts at $28,130 for the manual version and $29,200 for the DSG-equipped model. All aforementioned MSRPs exclude a destination charge of $795.

Read more »

Volkswagen Goes Beetles for 2012 SEMA Aftermarket Show

On the eve of the 2012 SEMA Show, Volkswagen presented its range of customized cars that include six Beetles and one Golf Mk6 tune.

The lineup kicks off with the "Ultimate Super Beetle" show car built in collaboration with performance specialist APR and the VWvortex team. The concept is based on the 2013 Beetle Turbo with the 2.0-liter TFSI, which in factory trim, produces 200-horses.

Read more »

Volkswagen Adds Another Special Edition to the Beetle's Range

While there's certainly no shortage of "special edition" models in the Beetle's range, Volkswagen believes it's what buyers want so it continues to churn out new variants.

The latest one is called the "Beetle Remix" and it just launched in Germany. What makes it special, at least in the eyes of Volkswagen's marketing team, are some cosmetic add-ons.

Read more »

This is the All-New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible [14 Photos]

We still have a long way to go before the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show kicks off on November 30, but Volkswagen couldn't wait to reveal the convertible version of its latest Beetle model.

Not that we're surprised in any way as the new Beetle Convertible follows the same formula with its predecessor combining the hatchback's retro-style body with a traditional soft top that lies exposed behind the rear seats when folded down.

We do not get any images of the car with the top in its place, but the German automaker claims that the combination of a "flatter roofline and the more upright windshield" gives the car a shape that’s "more closely aligned with the first generation Beetle Cabriolet".

The top is automatic on all models, regardless of trim, and takes a little over 10 seconds to open or close at a touch of a button, which can be used up to a speed of 30mph (48 km/h).

Read more »

Volkswagen Adds Two New Entry Level Powertrains to Beetle Range in the UK

The ever-expanding lineup of the Volkswagen Beetle gains two more engine derivatives in Britain.

This time, the German carmaker has added a 1.2-litre TSI petrol delivering 104HP / 105 PS connected to a six-speed manual gearbox (joining the DSG version of the same powerplant) and the 1.6-litre TDI diesel 104HP / 105 PS with BlueMotion Technology, which is offered with either a five-speed manual or seven-speed DSG transmissions.

Read more »

Volkswagen Sports Up the New Beetle with R-Line Packages

New Beetle customers in Europe now have the option to fit their cars with two R-Line packages that are based on the top “Sport” version, including one for the outside and the other for the interior of the retro-flavored hatch.

With the exception of the wider wheels, both R-Line kits bring purely cosmetic upgrades. The exterior package available as a standalone item that can be combined with any of the twelve available Beetle colors, while the interior package is offered only as an extension of the R-Line exterior details.

Read more »