The 2013 Beetle TDI

The Convertible in Sixties Blue

“It’s a chic car,” my friend Roby said when I put her behind the wheel of the Beetle TDI. “What’s a chic car?, I asked a little disingenuously.  Volkswagen went to great lengths to make this new Beetle appealing to both men and women.  They went so far as to do away with the bud vase, one of the greatest iconic car accessories of all time. Plus, it’s diesel.”

The 2013 is bigger inside, and she, who is one long drink of water, fit very nicely in the car, head to toe.

Powered by a 2.0 liter, 140 horsepower 4-cylinder TDI turbocharged, clean diesel engine that delivers 236lb-ft of torque with a 6-speed automatic transmission and electro-mechanical power steering, the Beetle had smooth acceleration and plenty of it when prompted.

The car was painted Denim Blue, a hark back to the sixties with some tonal differences.  The 1961 VW I bought a year ago––to restore myself with the help of Roby’s son, Brooks, who knows his way around mechanics and will be my guru––is that sixties blue dappled with a bit of rust.

I drove more than 300 miles over a three-day period.  After several long stints, I emerged from the Beetle with an intact back and working legs. It’s a very comfortable car.  Fuel economy is 29 city/39 hwy/32 combined.  I was mostly doing highway driving so mileage was excellent.

The navigation system is pretty straightforward and easy to use, which is about the highest complement you can pay a Nav system these days.  It did refuse to let me input my home address in New York City, trying to make me go to some other Riverside Drive.  Quirks.  These Nav systems all have them.


I did search a couple of gas stations to find diesel.  I had no problems filling the tank and drove by one or two gas stations.

Operation of the radio is uncomplicated. It produces a very pleasing sound, which is provided by Fender, the famous guitar company.  The quiet cabin with Fender’s audio makes a great listening combo.  I’ve recently driven other small cars like the Honda Fit where the cabin noise was noticeable.

With only about $300 in options my vehicle cost $28,360 including destination charges. 

This car is  a complete redo of the “New Beetle”,  the model that brought the car back to America in 1997.  That car was right for its time. But the designers of the New Beetle didn’t want to reference the old Beetle.  This time, Volkswagen has brought design cues from the old Beetle into its new iteration.  They are subtle and the car couldn’t be more modern, but memories stir in the hearts of those of us who grew up loving the Beetle.  You’ll love this one too.

The Bentley Everyday Driver

Road trip!

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A week ago, Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, Bentley had their press conference to unveil the gorgeous new Bentley GT Speed Convertible—the world’s fastest four-seat convertible.  Top-down touring, the new GT Speed offers mind-bending, twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter W12 with 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, and goes from zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds while delivering a 15 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. The close-ratio eight-speed transmission, retuned and lowered suspension and more responsive steering gives Bentley a performance edge in its rarified world.  It’s a performance beast with 21-inch wheels and detail honed to the max––not surprising considering it’s price and that its parent company is Volkswagen a company that has always been at the top of the automotive interiors game. Permanent all-wheel drive ensures optimum traction and power delivery whatever the road conditions. Bentley sales are up 22 percent over 2011.  They delivered 8,510 cars globally, 2, 315 in the U.S.

I was following along the description of the car in all of its craftsmanship and perfection while calculating the monthly payments on a (pricing and launch to be announced but let’s say $200,000+) car (Or I could just pay cash) when I heard Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive Dr Wolfgang Schreiber say that this was a car that functioned perfectly for everyday-driving.  My everyday driving is usually accompanied by deciding between Shoprite and Price Chopper because X brand is a few cents cheaper at one or the other.  But, I love irony.   So I tweeted the comment.

The next morning, I was grabbing a danish and cup of coffee before I began my ten-hour drive back to New York.  There was only one gentleman in the alcove at the time.  Fit, sandy-haired, a craggy-faced presence.   I asked him if he was here for the auto show.  “Yes,” he said in a British accent,” I’m here with Bentley."  I shared my skepticism about the everyday-driver business.

“It is an everyday driver,” he shot back. “I use my car for errands and around town.  And I’m not just saying that because I represent Bentley.  It’s a car that’s extremely capable and yet very easy to drive.”  He lives a mile or so from Goodwood, where Rolls Royce’s are built,  yet drives a Bentley.

I didn’t know who this man was, but I had the clear impression that he knew what he was talking about.  Duh.  I was talking to Derek Bell, the racing champion who has won LeMans five times, the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice.  His son, Justin Bell,  is also a race car driver.

“I’m sorry," I said,  "I should know who you are.”   “No you shouldn’t," he replied.   Isn’t that just bit different from today’s needy celebrities?  But what an appropriate response for someone who represents and classy, understated brand like Bentley.

PRICING FOR FUEL-EFFICIENT BEETLE TDI® CLEAN DIESEL COUPE

Awwww.

The only Clean Diesel offering in the compact coupe category goes on sale in August

• Volkswagen’s sixth TDI® Clean Diesel model available in the U.S.

Herndon, VA -  Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced pricing for the Beetle TDI® Clean Diesel coupe. The Beetle TDI is the third model in the Beetle lineup and joins the 2.5-liter five-cylinder and 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline models, which launched to great acclaim in 2011. The Beetle TDI features VW’s 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection Clean Diesel engine that produces 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. When equipped with a manual transmission, the model has manufacturer fuel economy estimates of 41 mpg highway and 32 mpg city.

Model Lineup
Three trims are available with the TDI® Clean Diesel powertrain. All models feature a standard six-speed manual transmission with Volkswagen’s acclaimed six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission as an option. All three are very well equipped, with standard features such as power windows with one-touch up/down; cruise control; V-Tex Leatherette seating; front-center armrest; the “Käeferfach” secondary glovebox; Bluetooth® technology; leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with audio controls; three-color ambient lighting; auxiliary instrument package; Keyless entry with push-button start; SiriusXM Satellite Radio®; and a Media Device Interface with iPod® cable.

TDI
Manual $23,295
Automatic $24,395
The base TDI model comes standard with unique 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, all the equipment listed above, and an interior and exterior chrome package. The standard RCD310 audio system has an AM/FM radio, CD player, Bluetooth® technology, SiriusXM Satellite Radio® and eight speakers

TDI with Sunroof
Manual $24,895
Automatic $25,995
This model adds a panoramic tilt/slide sunroof and Volkswagen’s touchscreen Premium VIII radio to the Beetle TDI trim.

TDI with Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation
Manual $26,195
Automatic $27,295
In addition to the above features, the top model includes the RNS 315 navigation system and the award-winning Fender® Premium Audio system.

All prices exclude a destination charge of $770.

2013 Beetle TDI Pricing
Model	Price	Features
TDI manual         automatic	$23,295 $24,395	2.0L 140 hp TDI® engine, six-speed manual transmission; 17-inch alloy wheels; power windows with one-touch up/down; cruise-control; V-Tex leatherette seating; trip computer; front center-armrest; auxiliary instrument package; keyless access with push-button start; RCD 310 eight-speaker sound system with aux-in and Media Device Interface with iPod® cable; SiriusXM® Satellite Radio; three-color ambient lighting + Six-speed DSG® transmission
TDI w/ Sunroof manual auto	$24,895 $25,995	(Includes Beetle TDI features) + Panoramic sunroof with power tilt and slide + Six-speed DSG® transmission
TDI w/ Sunroof, Sound, and Navi manual auto	$26,195 $27,295	(Includes TDI w/ Sunroof features) + RNS 315 touchscreen navigation, Fender Premium Audio System + six-speed DSG® transmission
Destination	$     770	All Prices Exclude Destination Charge

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, Golf R, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

“DSG”, “TDI”, “VW”, “Volkswagen”, all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. “Bluetooth” is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. “Fender” is a registered trademark of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. “iPod” is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. “SiriusXM” and “SiriusXM Satellite Radio” are trademarks of SiriusXM Radio, Inc.

Where stated, fuel economy values (mpg) are EPA estimates. All other fuel economy values are forecast manufacturer values for the USA; those EPA estimates were not available at time of release.

MSRPs exclude taxes, title, options, and dealer charges.

Chattanooga

Shared dinner with Ralph Jakobs, head of research and development for Volkswagen. He is located here in Chattanooga home to the first U.S. Volkswagen plant, which we will tour tomorrow.

The new Passat, which we also drive from Chattanooga to Nashville tomorrow, is being built here. There's been a lot of anticipation around the car and my colleague journalists and I are looking forward to getting into the cars.

Jakobs shared some pretty interesting information tonight. About 85% of the parts in the new Passat are sourced in America. Some also come from Mexico where VW used to build the New Beetle and some from Germany. But 85% American parts? That's amazing when you think how difficult it is to buy anything made here anymore.

I asked how many parts were sourced in China. "One," said Jakobs, "the sunvisor." Really? Only one part sourced in China? Wow.

More later on the plant and the vehicle.

VW Unveils Beetle

VW wants to sell a lot of Beetles, not just in America but in China and Europe. How many? I bet they're looking at a 50,000 here in the U.S. "We don't disclose the numbers," says Ranier Michel, Vice President of Product Marketing and Strategy, but it is very important to our volume growth plan."

Beetle is a 2-door hatchback. It is longer, lower and wider than the New Beetle, which was introduced in 1998. I thought the interior room was fine and there's good trunk space--a 4-5 bagger.

The new design loses its cartoonishness, conjuring the classic Beetle that America fell in love with in the 1960s. Michel believes that the new model will connect back to the classic Beetle. "I don't think there will be any confusion with the previous model. That model was good for its time and it was very successful, but this model is for now." Michel notes big opportunities for customization, lots of accessories, adjustable ambient lighting in car's interior, a Fender sound system, sporty fashion-y paint colors as things that people want today.

The front hood is longer, the windshield has been moved back is at a steeper angle. The rear of the vehicle replicates the lines of the original car but it has--without overreaching--a bold and modern feel. The driving position has been moved forward, the interior has cues from the old Beetle like the glove box integrated into the dash as well as a glove box below, the three round gauges for speedometer, tachometer and fuel in the instrument panel have big numbers and a welcome simplicity. In the turbo there are three additional gauges in the center for oil pressure, turbo and stop watch. The dash has color or a carbon look that gives it a quality feel. We did not see any mouse brown interiors in the show cars and I expect that VW will make all the interiors with a snappy, high-quality feel. The trim color on the interior will match the exterior paint--cool.

Driving
Think sporty and cool. You can get 19" wheels if you want.

On Sale and Pricing
Pricing hasn't been announced. I'm guessing in the $17,000-$18,000 range. It'll be on sale September/October. It will be built in Mexico. VW will sell this around the globe--lots of potential in Europe and China.

Beetle (it's official name, no article before it) will have three engines: 2.5L gasoline five cylinder, 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel, and 2.0L TSI Turbocharged engine. The 2.5L will come with a 5-speed transmission and an optional 6. The Clean Diesel and Turbo will come standard with a six-speed manual. An options is VW's 6-speed dual clutch transmission.

Fuel economy:
The four cylinder 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel engine produces 140 hp and 236 lb.-ft of torque. It meets all U.S. emission limits and offers manufacturer estimates of 40 mpg highway, 29 mpg city, and 33 mpg combined.

Two 2.5L five cylinder engine models. With 5-speed manual transmission,
estimates are 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. With a 6-speed automatic 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway. The five cylinder engine produces 170 hp and 177 lb.-ft of torque.

The 2.0L, the sportiest model offered has 200 hp, 207 lb.-ft of torque and an estimated 30 mpg highway.

Safety
Intelligent Crash Response System, which initiates automatic safety protection in some types of collisions — the electrical supply to the fuel pump is shut off, the doors unlock and the hazard lights switch on. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is standard, as are driver and front passenger airbags and Side Curtain Protection® airbags in front and rear.

Problems:
It's a 2-door, limiting the access to the back seat, though once back there it's roomy. VW is dealing with quality problems. Their scores are coming back up. Jonathan Browning, VW president of North America says they are being diligently worked on, but it takes time to get quality back. VW has a great, professional serious focused team. I'm betting on them.

New York Auto Show 2011

Officially, the press days of the New York auto show start on Wednesday with the opening breakfast at Javits. But manufacturers are so pumped about their new products, that introductions start tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The unveilings kick off with an introduction to the Beetle. That's not the old Beetle, or the New Beetle, but the new New Beetle, which will just be called The Beetle. I'm excited to see it. We've seen the profile from the side. It looks longer than the New Beetle so I assume it will have more space inside and greater dimension. But more on that tomorrow.

On Tuesday, the NADA holds their conference with some looks at the U.S. economy as it relates to the automotive world. We'll hear what is happening with market share among the competing companies and the competing segments. Tuesday evening there are about 10 press conference/gatherings all around the same time. Suzuki, Nissan, Audi, Lexus, Porsche and Ford all have news to share.

Wednesday, the press conferences start and will continue into Thursday. Looking forward to this show because despite how the industry keeps getting slammed, it is a business that is always inventing and changing and trying new things. And it doesn't get much credit for the innovation. It gets a lot of criticism, much of it deserved, but much of it undeserved.