Autoblog

Fender teams up with Panasonic for Volkswagen audio systems

Noah Joseph — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

Ask a car guy what a fender is and he'll point to the front corners of a car. A musician, meanwhile, will show you his guitar. (A sailor will toss a rubber bumper over the side, but that's neither here nor there.) But now the two are coming together as reports indicate that the iconic guitar company is getting into the auto industry.

Well, almost. That'd be one bridge too far, but they are closing the divide by developing car stereos. The project is reportedly being undertaken with Panasonic, and developed specifically for Volkswagen.

The Fender-Panasonic systems will reportedly be deployed first on the Jetta, then the New Beetle and finally the new Tennessee-built Passat. Whether the VWs carrying the new audio systems will be special editions with unique "fender badges" remains to be seen.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

Fender teams up with Panasonic for Volkswagen audio systems originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: First photos of 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Beetle spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this year we learned that Volkswagen has been readying a new New Beetle, and we now have the first spy photos of the next-generation Bug out testing. Rumor has it that this car could debut as early as next month at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, but we think a Detroit or Geneva debut is much more likely.

Though still in test mule stages, it's obvious that the next Beetle will take a lot of its styling cues from Volkswagen's Ragster concept, first shown in 2005. The longer, flatter greenhouse and softened curves give the cutesy Bug a more aggressive stance. Perhaps Volkswagen is trying to break the Beetle out of its "chick car" stereotype.

The 2012 Beetle will ride on the new Golf VI platform, and it's expected that powertrains will be shared between both cars. Volkswagen's 2.5-liter inline-five is a safe bet, as is the 2.0-liter TDI four, but sources within Volkswagen have told us that the next-generation Beetle will be available with a pretty potent engine. "Something you can take to the track," they said. Hmm... Whatever the case, we'll know more when the car makes its official debut within the next few months.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: First photos of 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen New Beetle still number one with the ladies

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen New Beetle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Men, take note: According to a new survey from research firm TrueCar, the Volkswagen New Beetle is (still) the ultimate car for women. Apparently, its combination of cute-as-a-button looks and affordable pricing make the reborn Bug a total hit with the fairer sex.

This data was determined not by some silly woman-on-the-street clipboard survey, but rather by looking at the registrations of more than 13 million vehicles over the past two years. We could have saved them quite a bit of work if they wanted to know that the New Beetle was a chick car, but whatever. There was some other interesting info gleaned from the research, including the revelation that 64% of all cars are registered by men despite the fact that there are more women (at 51% of the population, just a tad) than men in America.

Rounding out the top five vehicles that scored well with the mono-chromosomed gender were the Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, (saw this one coming) Volkswagen Eos and Volvo S40.

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Volkswagen New Beetle still number one with the ladies originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen reportedly taking final orders on New Beetle

Noah Joseph — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen, Australia

2010 Volkswagen New Beetle Final Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've got your eyes set on buying a Volkswagen New Beetle before it beeps its way off into the sunset, well... first of all, you've got us baffled. Secondly, this could be your last chance for the current-generation model before it ceases production. This according to the latest reports attributed to the German automaker's Australian arm.

The reports would ostensibly make sense, since previous ones indicated that Volkswagen was preparing to introduce a thorough revision of the quirky retro-mobile. Not to mention the end-of-the-line Final Edition which VW unveiled at the LA Auto Show last year. Tipped to place less emphasis on the cutesy factor and more on, you know... the car part, we're expecting to see the new New Beetle later this year, ahead of an anticipated market introduction early in 2011.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2010 Volkswagen Beetle

[Source: Volkswagen]

Volkswagen reportedly taking final orders on New Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: VW New Beetle successor timeframe and details come into focus

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2005 Volkswagen Ragster concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Volkswagen New Beetle hasn't exactly been, well, "New," for many years now. However, a report from AutoWeek states that the Bug will get a much-needed overhaul later this year, with a concept car expected to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show near the end of 2010. Following the show car debut, the production New Beetle should be hitting U.S. dealers in May of 2011.

AW reports that design sources within Volkswagen indicate that the new New Beetle will take styling cues from the 2005 Ragster concept (pictured). What's more, the next-generation car will have a stronger focus on driving dynamics, rather than overall retro style. As for powertrains, the U.S. can expect both the 2.5-liter five-cylinder and 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder mills to be under-hood, with a twin-charged 1.4-liter gasoline/electric hybrid reportedly in the works. Five- and six-speed manual transmissions will be offered, as well as an optional seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

But while all this is well and good, will a styling and dynamic overhaul be enough to revive the New Beetle's momentum here in the U.S., or will it simply go the way of the original Beetle in just a few years time? Have your say, in comments.

Gallery: 2005 VW Ragster Concept

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: VW New Beetle successor timeframe and details come into focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next generation Volkswagen Beetle coming next year

Dan Roth — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Volkswagen, Rumormill, Design/Style

3rd verse, same as the first. Not entirely, of course, but when the subject is the Volkswagen New Beetle, the looks of the car are largely a foregone conclusion. Just like the current New Beetle evokes the original Type 1 with its roundy-round fat-fenderedness, the next version, expected to go on sale in May 2011, will continue paying homage to the classic form. The outward differences will be a less-arched roofline that's more like the Ragster concept, and reportedly more surface detailing to break up the current car's vast expanses of featureless sheetmetal.

The new roofline and a stretch in wheelbase, plus a bump in width, will allow more logical interior packaging. Underneath all the retro, the next Beetle will again be running hardware shared with the Jetta. The UK's Autocar reports that its sources indicate the Beetle's dynamics will improve, with the ride becoming more supple. The familiar strut front suspension and beam rear axle layout will return, though a multi-link rear suspension will go into top-zoot models for sportier reflexes. Powertrain combinations in North America will likely be only two or three choices, possibly a 2.0T at the top, a TDI for the economy conscious, and the Jetta's 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder standard otherwise. A hybrid powertrain may also be in the works.

While the concept of a "new" Beetle conjures visions of more of the same, Autocar's rendering looks fresh, and even within the constraints of a 70-year-old design brief, there's room for new expression.

[Source: Autocar | Rendering: Autocar]

Report: Next generation Volkswagen Beetle coming next year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Beetle pickup conversion can haul more flowers

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Truck, Etc., Volkswagen, Specialty

Volkswagen New Beetle Pickup Conversion - Click above for image gallery

Still bummed that Volkswagen isn't planning to bring the new Amarok pickup to the States? Perhaps there's another way to get your hands on a VW made for hauling: a New Beetle pickup conversion. Proving the old adage, "When there's a will, there's a way," Japanese body shop Hayashi has grafted the rear half of a pickup with the front half of a New Beetle. The results, um... speak for themselves, no?

We know that the new version of the ol' Bug is sometimes seen as a feminine vehicle, but we're not so sure converting one into a pickup truck is the right way to rectify that situation. At least there's plenty of room for more than just the lonely single flower in the dash-mounted plastic holder. See for yourself in the gallery below.

Gallery: Volkswagen New Beetle Pickup

[Source: Carscoop]

New Beetle pickup conversion can haul more flowers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Volkswagen Beetle to use Jetta platform

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Time keeps on slippin' into the future, and cars keep on gettin' bigger. The Volkswagen New Beetle was shown at the LA Auto Show in various Final Edition guises, and the second word on the next edition is that it will be built on the Jetta platform. The first word was that Volkswagen wants the bubbleback's next design to be more masculine, which probably means - and this is just a guess - you can kiss that flower vase goodbye.

All of this rumormongering comes out of the UK's Autocar magazine, who opine that an increase in size would also help up the masculinity factor and make for more room in that Leprechaun-sized back seat. The current Jetta's wheelbase is 101.5 inches, whereas the New Beetle measures up at 98.80 inches. Those 2.7 inches don't sound like a lot of extra room to play with - especially when considering the New Beetle's rainbow canopy - but with some imaginative design and innovative packaging, a noticeable improvement doesn't seem out of reach.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Next Volkswagen Beetle to use Jetta platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Next New Beetle will have bigger back seat

Chris Shunk — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2009 Volkswagen New Beetle - Click above for high-res image gallery

The "New Beetle" was a smash hit when it debuted in 1998, and the cutesy little Bug immediately jumped to sales of 83,434 the next year. Over the next 10 years, however, Volkswagen left the spiritual successor to the original Beetle out to dry, and sales have steadily dropped down to near nothingness. AutoWeek is reporting that Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of VW of America, confirmed at a press event in Germany that a long overdue redesign of the New Beetle is coming in 2012, and packaging will be vastly improved.

The current back seat of the New Beetle is a real problem being far too small and uncomfortable for a vehicle in the small car segment. Jacoby says the next Beetle will have a larger rear quarters and better packaging, without growing much beyond its current dimensions. Jacoby says the Beetle will also be used by VW as a kind of low-cost halo car, showing that the German automaker has returned to its roots of building cars for the people.

It's great that VW is finally getting around to making the next New Beetle, but with 14 years between redesigns, we're thinking VW needs to knock the next little Bug out of the park if it once again wants to catch the eye of the car-buying public.

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle

[Source: AutoWeek]

REPORT: Next New Beetle will have bigger back seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Budget, Volkswagen, Rendered Speculation

Click above for high-res renderings of a possible New Beetle

When designing a retro-style automobile like the revived MINI, Mustang or VW Beetle, the first generation is the easy one. The second go-round, on the other hand, is a tougher nut to crack, and the easy thing to do is to maintain the status quo. Volkswagen did just that when it revised its New Beetle back in 2006, but the third-generation of today's Bug is expected to ratchet things up a bit design-wise. We're expecting something more mature, perhaps along the lines of the Ragster concept from 2005, which emphasized its low-slung bodywork with a chopped top reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster. Flashier lights and more angular sheetmetal are also distinct possibilities.

Whatever the case, it won't be an easy redesign. VeeDub could stay the course by keeping the cute and charming nature of the current New Beetle intact or it could spice things up with something much more sporty. Could the German automaker do both? That's an option for the future, and current rumors indicate that VW has considered at least two separate Beetle models, one based on the Golf and another using the underpinnings from the yet-to-be-released Up! microcar. The current state of the economy, though, makes a plan like that much less likely to bear fruit.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle - renderings

[Source: Car Magazine]

New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW considering speedster, SUV variants of new New Beetle

Noah Joseph — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, SUV, Volkswagen

Click above to view the VW Ragster concept in hi res

With retro rides - from the Fiat 500 to the Dodge Challenger - popping up left, right and center, it would be all to easy to forget the vehicle that started the trend: Volkswagen's New Beetle. Now with ten years on the road since introduction in 1998, the New Beetle is getting a little long in the tooth, but VW is preparing to launch its successor. However, while the current version is available only in two versions (coupe and cabrio), the next iteration may come with a few new twists in the lineup, mirroring the steadily-evolving range of variants of the MINI. That is, if the latest reports are to be believed.

Engineering is tipped to already be underway in Germany, with styling being carried out in California and production confirmed to continue in Mexico. Among the new body styles reportedly under consideration in Wolfsburg are a two-seat speedster version, as previewed by the Ragster concept from Detroit '05, and a potential SUV like the 2000 Beetle Dune concept. The next Beetle is tipped to be based on the current Mk5 Golf/Rabbit, rather than the upcoming sixth-generation platform.

Gallery: 2005 VW Ragster Concept

[Source: 4Car]

VW considering speedster, SUV variants of new New Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle, Cabriolet and Speedster

John Neff — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Coupe, Volkswagen

click above image to view high-res gallery of VW New Beetle renderings

It's one of the hardest tricks for a designer to pull off: redesign a retro car that takes its styling cues from an iconic classic. Volkswagen has already refreshed the design of its New Beetle once, though the redo was kept to a minimum and included things like new headlights, slightly more creased fenders, and new taillights. The time will come, however, when the New Beetle needs a new look, and according to Brenda Priddy's illustration artist, the next-gen people's car will be inspired by VW's series of up! concepts that have been trotted out at recent auto shows around the world. And truly, doesn't it make sense? Adding the up! bumper to the New Beetle gives its face a cheery smile that one would expect from a car that comes standard with a flower vase in the dash. The same goes for the rear bumper that gives a grin to passerbys as if to say, "Make love, not war!". Even the new head and taillights in these renderings look more like actual eyeballs than on most cars. Whether or not these illustrations have a grain of truth to them remains to be seen, but the fact can't be denied that VW needs to somehow update the New Beetle's design without losing any of its inherent charm.

So far this year, the New Beetle coupe is down 9.8% in sales while the convertible is off -19.7%. What will help a redesign gain traction with buyers are new features being planned for the next-gen Bug, including availability of a DSG gearbox and even a speedster model that could hint at a performance variant. Hmmm... kind of looks like Walt Disney's version of a Porsche Boxster.

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle - renderings

Continue reading Rendered Speculation: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle, Cabriolet and Speedster

Rendered Speculation: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle, Cabriolet and Speedster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What company has the most recalled 2007 models?

John Neff — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Recalls, Volkswagen

BusinessWeek has trolled the NHTSA files to find out which automakers have had to recall their brand new 2007 models the most, and the winner is Volkswagen thanks to a recall of just over 1 milion 2007 New Beetles because of potentially faulty brake light switches. Of course, Ford announced a major recall of 3.6 million vehicles earlier this month for defective cruise control switches, but none of the vehicles affected were 2007 models and so don't count for this list.

We've complied the rest of the data for you in a handy list after the jump, because we hate having to click through BusinessWeek's 15-part slideshow, and we suspect you might, too.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Continue reading What company has the most recalled 2007 models?

What company has the most recalled 2007 models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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