We put the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Turbo through our usual battery of tests to see how the new Bug performs.
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00 (car engine revving)
00:03 Ever since its multi-city big deal reveal
00:10 earlier this year,
00:11 Volkswagen has been trying to convince the world
00:14 that its all new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
00:17 is a more manly car than the old new Beetle.
00:20 We agree it looks more masculine and aggressive
00:22 than its bubble-icious predecessor ever did,
00:25 but does it actually have the brawn to back up the looks?
00:28 As it happens, we were able to lay our hands
00:31 and test equipment on both the entry-level 2012 VW Beetle
00:35 and the sporty Beetle Turbo.
00:37 The base car is powered by Volkswagen's
00:39 2.5 liter inline-five.
00:41 It's a carryover engine from the original new Beetle,
00:44 but it now delivers 20 more horsepower
00:46 and nine more pound-feet of torque,
00:48 which makes a decent 170 horsepower
00:51 and 177 pound-feet of torque.
00:54 The Turbo now boasts Volkswagen's two-liter Turbo Four,
00:57 stepping in for the old 1.8 liter Turbo.
01:00 The new motor lays down 200 horsepower
01:02 and 207 pound-feet of torque,
01:04 an improvement of 20 horsepower and 35 pound-feet.
01:08 The new Beetle laid down an 8.8 second
01:11 zero to 60 mile per hour time
01:13 and ran the quarter mile in 16.7 seconds
01:15 at 83.7 miles per hour
01:18 with its six-speed automatic transmission.
01:20 We can also tell you it stopped from 60
01:22 in a decent 125 feet,
01:25 pulled a 0.86 G number on the skid pad,
01:28 and ran our figure eight course in 27.3 seconds
01:31 at an average of 0.62 Gs.
01:34 Editors who drove the car found the i5
01:36 a bit short of breath at times,
01:37 but otherwise competent.
01:39 We also tested the new 2012 Turbo.
01:42 It laid down a stout 6.3 second
01:44 zero to 60 mile per hour time
01:46 and ran the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds
01:49 at 94.7 miles per hour.
01:51 The Turbo's DSG dual-clutch gearbox
01:54 refused to allow brake torquing
01:55 or any other method of improving the launch.
01:58 We'll have to get our hands
01:58 on a manual transmission-equipped model
02:00 and see what numbers it gives us.
02:02 The new Turbo also stopped in 125 feet
02:05 and pulled 0.84 Gs average on the skid pad,
02:08 which can be attributed to each model
02:10 wearing different tires.
02:12 Finally, the new Turbo ran around the figure eight
02:14 in 27 seconds flat at 0.65 Gs average.
02:19 Editors who drove the car also complained
02:21 of excessive turbo lag
02:22 exacerbated by long gears
02:24 and a transmission programmed for fuel economy,
02:26 not sportiness.
02:28 Several also complained of excessive body roll
02:30 and lean in turns, a harsh ride,
02:32 and light, uncommunicative steering
02:34 from the rail-thin tiller.
02:36 To be fair, the Beetle has never been a sports car.
02:39 Our editors were quick to agree
02:41 the new Beetle is a vast improvement
02:42 over the old, new Beetle.
02:45 As for the Beetle Turbo, it may not be a GTI,
02:48 but all agreed it's more fun to drive
02:50 and handles better than its predecessor.
02:52 Volkswagen's finally built a modern Beetle
02:54 that car guys wouldn't and shouldn't be embarrassed to drive.
02:58 But will they give it a chance?
03:00 Who knows, but they ought to.
03:02 (rock music)
03:04 (whooshing)