More Bug: ’12 Volkswagen Beetle adds aggressive stance

The bud vase has been tossed and the rounded roof has been given a flat-top. Man, that ought to do it.

Make it more masculine, Volkswagen designers were told in planning the 2012 Beetle, for “men simply haven’t been buying it.”

Enough of the cutesy New Beetle, which, after showing up spectacularly in 1998 and selling at a hot clip for three years, began a plunge toward the bottom of the chart.

To accomplish the fix, the third-generation Beetle has been returned to the slope which carried the original “Bug” to world-record sales levels. That dates back to 1949, when the German-built VW first arrived in the U.S.

The 2012 model, which will be known as the Beetle (the “New” has been dropped), has a longer hood, the flattened top and a longer rear slope, more closely styled after the original.

The new one, though, is 6 inches longer, 3 inches wider and is of lower profile, a more aggressive stance. “The windshield is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline,” said Klaus Bischoff, VW brand design chief. “It has dominant sportiness; all of this creates a new dynamism.”
We’ll see how that plays out with the prospective customers, both men and women. It’s a fun car to drive, as were the previous Beetles, and it draws a lot of attention on the street.

Under the hood of the vibrant red model brought to my doorstep was a 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter inline-5-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. There’s nothing quick about it, though by using manual-mode shifts and keeping your foot deeper into the accelerator, the pace picks up considerably.

For a shot of low-end torque, there is the optional 200-hp, turbocharged 4-cylinder; it comes, however, at a premium of about $4,000.
The front-drive Beetle 2.5 with sunroof, premium sound and navigation carries sticker price of $25,965. All that and, yet, it lacks a rearview camera tied to its navigation package, and the nav/audio screen is small.

It rides comfortably and handles decently with its strut-type front and torsion-beam rear suspension with coil springs.

The car’s interior is much improved, with a not-so-deep dashboard and two glove boxes, one in the dash, which opens upward; and the regular one below, opening downward. A painted dash, red for the one I drove, lends a retro look.

A highlight is the nine-speaker Fender sound system with subwoofer. An adjustable interior ambiance lighting (red, blue, white) includes the front-door speakers’ outer rims.

Small rear quarter windows can occasionally create blind spots for the driver. Even with the expanded dimensions, legroom remains tight in the back seat. Trunk capacity has been expanded to a roomy 15.4 cubic feet from the previous model’s 12 cubic feet.

A drop-down armrest adds comfort for the front-seat occupants; other amenities include push-button start, trip computer, leather-covered steering wheel, heated front seats, cruise control, power windows/locks/mirrors, 18-inch wheels and antilock disc brakes.
Also new for Volkswagen for 2012 is the redesigned Passat midsize sedan.

Q: Bud, I’m not sure if the fifth-generation Camaro has gotten any votes in the “best-looking Chevy of all time,” but it should. I got a 2011 LT1 for my 65th birthday in May because it is one of the best-looking cars I have ever seen. The looks I get driving it and the comments I get when parked or gassing up make me proud to own one. I had a ’68 Olds 442 when I was in the service and thought I would never be able to replace it. Well, I did. – R.M.

A: Well, the ’11 Camaro now has a vote, R.M. It’s a beautiful car, and must be a pleasure for you to drive. May you enjoy many birthdays down the road in that Camaro.

Q: Bud, my vote for best-looking Chevy of all time has to be the 1957 Bel Air. The lines are so great. My best buddy in high school had a black/white/red model with a full-race Corvette engine. Man, did I love that car. Also, we saw several nice ’57s at Sands Chevrolet dealership in El Mirage, Ariz., last winter, which were part of the owner’s private collection on view in the showroom. – M.H.

A: The ’57 has drawn good support in the voting, Monte.

$25,965

(price as tested)

MPG City 22 Highway 29

Vehicle type: Compact two-door

Wheelbase: 99.9 inches

Length/Width/Height: 168.4/71.2/58.5 inches

Weight: 2,983 pounds

Engine: 2.5-liter 5-cylinder

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Fuel mileage: 26.8 mpg

Fuel tank: 14.5 gallons

Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain

Competitors: Kia Soul, Nissan cube, Chevrolet HHR, Volvo C30, Mini Cooper

Built at Puebla, Mexico

$24,095 base

$1,100 Six-speed automatic transmission

$775 Destination

Increased cargo space

Retro instrument panel

Convenient to park

Rear-seat legroom

No rearview camera

Tepid performance

Relatively low mpg