VW will market three distinct versions of the 2012 Beetle, though the diesel won't debut until next year.
The new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will carry a base price of $18,995 – plus another $770 in destination charges – the German maker has announced.
That means VW is cutting the price of the next-generation Beetle by $445 compared to the outgoing coupe’s MSRP of $19,440. On the other hand, the 2012 Beetle will come to market at just an even $1,000 less than the $19,995 base price for Volkswagen’s all-new – and much larger — Passat, the first car to roll out of its new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
But price alone isn’t expected to be the big motivator when it comes to getting buyers into showrooms for what is only the third-generation Beetle. The new model – which had a global unveiling in Shanghai, New York and Berlin in April – is intended to revive the quirky appeal of the original “people’s car.”
The 2012 model is 6 inches longer than the so-called “New Beetle” that it replaces, which much of the added length going into is extended snout. It’s also 3.3 inches wider, for better shoulder room, but a half inch lower. Nonetheless, with the revised seating configuration, VW claims there will also be more headroom — and cargo space.
By pulling the nose – and engine – forward, said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, the ’12 model gets a more sporty, more macho look, with an interior that feels more cockpit-like, rather than the living room-style cabin of the New Beetle.
To be produced in Mexico, the 2012 VW Beetle will be offered in just three trim levels, simplifying both production and the ordering process – and allowing the maker to offer more goodies for buyers.
The $18,995 price covers the 2012 Beetle equipped with a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-five-cylinder engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. It’s rated by the EPA at 22 mpg City and 31 Highway.
Meanwhile, the 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo I4 will command a $23,995 figure when you add in the optional DSG gearbox. That model will deliver 22 mpg City and 30 mpg Highway.
The German maker has yet to release the pricing for the third Beetle model, which it claims will be the most efficient ever to bear the Beetle badge. It’s 2.0-liter turbodiesel is expected to yield up to 40 mpg City. While only rated at 140 hp, it’s expected to still be reasonably spritely thanks to 236 lb-ft of torque. The diesel version of the Beetle won’t be launched until 2012.
VW is clearly hoping to expand demand for the new 2012 Beetle, but according to Browning it will be more of a halo car than the brand’s high-volume mainstream models, the Passat and Jetta.