2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen is recalling 2,471 Beetle models over faulty occupant control modules in the front passenger seat. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if the seat in certain 2012 and 2013 model year vehicles gets wet, the module may malfunction and may not detect the presence of a child restraint. If that happens, the airbag will not shut off and will deploy in the event of a collision. Such a scenario could greatly increase the risk of serious child injury.

What do sharks and the Volkswagen Beetle have in common? No, this isn't a joke. We can't really come up with any uncontrived correlations, but that isn't stopping VW from being the title sponsor of Discovery Channel's 25th annual Shark Week.

Guys never seemed to warm up to the Volkswagen New Beetle, and it doesn't take a dual master's degree in psychology and automotive design to figure out why. The outgoing Beetle featured sheetmetal that could only be described as cutesy, and many (most?) men tend to shy away from vehicles that might result in the questioning of their manhood.

Volkswagen has released an extended version of its Super Bowl ad ahead of the Big Game, and it may not be what you expected. While the automaker's teaser hinted toward yet another Star Wars-themed spot after the success of last year's "The Force," the new commercial focuses instead on a pudgy puppy named Bolt. The advertisement's tagline is "Back and better than ever," and Bolt enters into a fitness montage set to some excellent James Brown tunes in order to slim down and chase after the 2012 Vo

Volkswagen ad shop Deutsch has prepped the first round of videos to promote the new Beetle, and there's a whole lotta shakin' high-fivin' goin' on. Set to Shirley Ellis' "The Clapping Song," the first spot shows the driver of a 2012 Bug needs to be on call for hand jiving. You'll find three of the new commercials after the jump, as well as the original "Black Betty" Super Bowl spot that's been tweaked to reveal the coupe at the end.

Those of you who read our First Drive of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo already know that the highest-performing version of the iconic Bug will require you to write a check for $23,395*. Step up to the well-received six-speed DSG transmission and you'll be looking at a $24,495 window sticker.

Getting Back To Being A Credible Car For The Times

2012 Volkswagen Beetle – Click above for high-res image gallery

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!