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April 12th, 2012 
BeetleOwnersClub
The UK’s first people-powered VW Beetle has taken to the streets of Bristol in what has been hailed as a breakthrough in the drive to encourage sustainable power.
The Bio-Bug runs on methane gas generated during the sewage treatment process.
Waste flushed down the toilets of just 70 homes in Bristol is enough to power the Bio-Bug for a year, based on an annual mileage of 10,000 miles.
April 12th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
Get ready, middle school art teachers – your new car is almost here. Following the launch of the re-skinned2012 Beetle (and its oil-burning TDI kin), Volkswagen is hard at work prepping the new droptop variant, seen here testing in a not-so-convertible-friendly environment.
The signature styling difference that separates the 2012 Beetle from the Bug that came before it is indeed the longer, flatter roofline, and it’s interesting to see how well the shape has been kept intact during the transformation from hardtop to droptop. This test mule is fitted with the front and rear fascias of the last-generation car, but make no mistake, the decidedly more masculine fore and aft lighting treatments will indeed carry over to the new convertible.
Much like the coupe, we can expect the Beetle Convertible to be available with Volkswagen’s 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine as standard kit. There’s no word about whether or not the 2.0-liter turbo-four will make its way under the hood of the new convertible, but what really piques our interest is that Volkswagen sources have pretty much confirmed that the topless Beetle will be available with the 2.0-liter TDI unit, making it the first (and currently, only) diesel droptop in the United States. Expect to see the production car debut at the New York Auto Show this April.
February 13th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub While road rage is sometimes portrayed as being a laughable matter, the reality is much more serious. Road rage incidents lead both to accidents on the roads and to acts of physical violence being committed, meaning it is something all motorists should be doing their utmost to avoid. Everyone gets frustrated when driving sometimes, due to a combination of the failings of other drivers and the pressures of modern life, but these are not excuses for allowing anger to get the better of you when you are driving. These are a couple of the major causes of road rage and how to respond in order to avoid it.
Other drivers
People get angry at what they see as deliberate acts of aggression or provocation by other motorists – whether they have been cut off by another driver, or the driver is moving slowly with a build up of traffic behind them. Nonetheless, it is still best to take time to calm down and think before responding in an aggressive manner to such behaviour. It may simply be a mistake rather than a genuine attempt to provoke, and even if this is not the case the adult response is not to engage such behaviour. On the other hand, if you are on the receiving end of another driver’s rage, the same is true – it is not worth the risks in terms of accidents and violence – that responding with equal aggression can lead to. Stay polite and refuse to allow things to escalate.
Time management
As mentioned above, the pressures of modern life, with work and family commitments, can be a major contributor to road rage. This can be defused by ensuring that you have allowed yourself leeway in the time you have to get to your next appointment and can afford delays during journeys – as failing to do this leads to frustrations boiling over when something holds you up. There is a good chance of a delay when making a road journey and you should plan in advance for this.
If you have been involved in an accident and are looking to make a road traffic accident claim contact www.irwinmitchell.com as they will be able to guide you in the right direction.
January 28th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
The latest Beetle might be ‘more power, less flower’, but that doesn’t mean that it’s anything other than environmentally conscientious, and that’s especially the case with the E-Bugster concept, which is powered purely by electricity.
Revealed this week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the
two-seat E-Bugster continues the latest Beetle’s sporty theme. An electric motor provides 85 kWh of power, which can propel it from 0 to 60 mph in 10.9 seconds, and yet offer a range of at least 110 miles from the 28.3 kWh lithium-ion batteries. Even in a country as large as America, that’s sufficient for the majority of commuters’ needs, while if the E-Bugster needs a top-up, a fast-charging function allows complete recharging in just 35 minutes.
The quick charging is possible thanks to a new Combined Charging System that was developed in co-operation with Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, Ford and General Motors/Opel. This allows charging via single-phase AC sources (for example a 120-Volt US or 230-Volt European domestic outlet) or via ultra-fast DC sources at specific charging stations. To succeed, this will require the development of a uniform industry standard for sockets and plugs and also for the charge controller, so that all charging types can be handled.
Of course, the E-Bugster doesn’t charge only when plugged in: as soon as the driver’s foot leaves the accelerator pedal kinetic energy is transformed into electricity and stored in the battery. Applying the brakes increases the intensity of regeneration, a function that is indicated to the driver in the instrument panel. Other instruments include driving range and battery state indicators, and a meter that shows how much energy the driver is requesting via the accelerator pedal.
At 4,278 mm long and 1,838 mm wide, the E-Bugster is the same length as a standard Beetle but 30 mm wider, while the new roof lowers the height by around 90 mm to 1,400 mm. This helps to give the E-Bugster its more dynamic and sporty look. The low, swept-back windscreen ensures maximum visibility, as does the wide rear screen, which shows that speedster-style vehicles need not be impractical.
Both front and rear bumpers have been substantially modified from those of the production Beetle. At the front, LED daytime running lights at the outer edges of the central air intake form a C-shape on the left that is mirrored on the right – a signature feature of Volkswagen’s electric vehicle concepts. This is also true at the back, where reflectors take the place of LEDs. Beneath the flared wheel arches sit 20-inch alloy wheels that are adapted from the 18-inch ‘Twister’ alloys of the production car, with 235/35 tyres. Around the bottom edge of the side windows is a chrome strip that loops around the vehicle from A-pillar to A-pillar. From this chrome strip to the top of the E-Bugster’s hard top the height is a low 400mm.
Inside, the two-seat interior reflects the E-Bugster’s blend of high-tech and sportiness, with sports seats nestling either side of a continuous centre console, plus aluminium door handles and seatbelt guides.
Starting the E-Bugster is pure theatre: upon pressing the Start button the interior is bathed in white light, then blue light. It starts with a light pulse in the instrument cluster, from where the light emanates in a millimetre-wide strip, coursing into the doors and around the air nozzles.
If the E-Bugster’s name is familiar, it should be: it takes some inspiration from the Ragster concept that made its debut at the 2005 Detroit Show, and which itself inspired the current Beetle. The ‘E’ of the name signifies the vehicle’s electric power, and the ‘Bug’ part of the name should need no explanation.
The E-Bugster is only a concept at this stage. The petrol-powered production Beetle is available to order now, with first deliveries due in April.
January 28th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
The overall packages of occupant, child and pedestrian protection and the safety assistance systems installed in the up! and the new generation Beetle have been evaluated by the European consumer protection organisation, Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), and the results are first-rate: five stars for both new Volkswagen cars.
In addition, the up! received Euro NCAP’s Advanced Award for the car’s innovative City Emergency Braking function. This positions the new Volkswagen ahead of its direct competitors, because no vehicle in its class has earned five stars and the Advanced Award before. So, the Volkswagen up! is ‘Best in class’ when it comes to safety.
In occupant protection, both vehicles attained top results in all seat positions and regardless of the sizes of the driver and front passenger. Factored into the rating were results of frontal and side impact tests, a pole side impact test and what is known as a whiplash test – which determines loads to the cervical spine of the neck. It is not only the large vehicles that are safe. Both small Volkswagen cars achieved excellent child protection results with dummies representing 18 month and three-year old children.
The up! and Beetle also attained impressive results in the area of safety equipment. Here, Euro NCAP rated the seatbelt reminders for all seats and use of a vehicle dynamic control system (ESP) as especially positive. Euro NCAP is increasingly evaluating active safety assist systems in vehicles. Along with its five star rating, this also led to the up! receiving the Advanced Award for its City Emergency Braking function.
The optional City Emergency Braking is automatically active at speeds between five and 30 km/h, and it utilises a laser sensor (integrated in the upper part of the windscreen) to scan an area of up to 10 metres in front of the up! and detect the risk of an impending collision. If a collision is about to occur with a vehicle moving in the driving direction or with a stationary object without the driver reacting, first the braking system is preconditioned, and in a second stage the hydraulic brake assistant is switched to a more sensitive level. Depending on the situation, City Emergency Braking might then initiate hard braking to a stop as a third stage or support the driver with full braking power if brake pedal pressure is insufficient. Depending on the vehicle’s speed and the particular situation, the emergency braking function with its automatic brake intervention can reduce the severity of accidents and in some cases avoid a collision altogether.
Euro NCAP is a manufacturer independent international crash test programme. The full test results can be viewed at www.euroncap.com. After the Golf, Golf Cabriolet, Jetta, Passat, Polo, Scirocco, Sharan and Tiguan, the up! and Beetle are the ninth and tenth vehicles from Volkswagen to earn a top ‘Five Star’ rating from Euro NCAP. This is another sign that Volkswagen is promoting vehicle safety as a top priority, and of course for all sizes of vehicles.
January 18th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
Used cars in Manchester are easy to find, it helps if you know exactly what you are looking for however. Walking into a dealership without a clue in mind of the vehicle you intend to buy can make the whole used car buying experience a daunting one!
Do your research first, find out exactly what car you wish to invest in and then begin your search. You could even start your search online at motors.co.uk, they have all makes and models to choose from.
Choose a vehicle that is suited to you solely and also one that will aid you on your daily commute rather than hinder you and any one around you.
A car is a big investment; however simply by buying from a used car dealership you are instantly saving a few pennies.
These pennies will most likely be appreciated elsewhere or can be saved for the likes of insurance costs and mechanical expenses; they will also come in handy if you need to have any mechanical expertise applied to the car.
It is always wise to keep a little money back just in case any of the above occurs, this way you won’t be left out of pocket!
Talk to a garage and keep them in mind as your second opinion. It is always wise to get another opinion, especially from a professional. Your untrained eye may not be able to spot a major problem, it is there job however to do so.
Make sure you keep in mind what you can afford; striving above your budget will mean you may have to cut back on other things!
Remember to ask any questions you feel the need to, at the end of the day the sales advisor is there to answer any questions you may have and asking these questions will in turn allow you peace of mind in knowing that you have made the right decision.
January 18th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
The new Volkswagen Beetle is now open for ordering, ahead of the first UK deliveries in spring 2012. At launch, two engines will be available: a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission and a 1.4-litre 160 PS TSI with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Three trim levels will be available: Beetle, Design and Sport. The 1.2-litre is offered in Beetle or Design trim from £16,490 (RRP OTR) and the 1.4-litre in Design or Sport trim from £19,470. Three other engines – a 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology 105 PS, 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS and 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS – will be joining the line-up later in 2012 along with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox for the 1.2-litre TSI model.
Specification levels are high. The standard Beetle comes with air conditioning, remote central locking, an RCD 310 CD system with DAB radio and rear Isofix seat preparation.
Moving to the mid-level Design trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels in a choice of two styles, Bluetooth telephone preparation with MDI (multi-device interface) iPod connectivity, front fog lights, an alarm, an RCD 510 DAB CD/radio, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-coloured door and dashboard panels.
The range-topping Sport specification brings 18-inch alloys in a choice of two styles, tinted glass, cruise control, sports seats, parking sensors, gloss black door mirrors, dashboard and door panel and 2Zone electronic climate control.
A wide range of optional equipment will also be available, including Keyless Access, satellite navigation systems, a panoramic sunroof and bi-xenon headlights.
The option that is expected to make the biggest impact is the Fender sound pack. Developed in conjunction with the legendary electric guitar firm of the same name, this audiophile’s delight offers a 400W output and a subwoofer, along with switchable three-colour illumination surrounding the front loudspeakers, all for just £495.
January 18th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
Volkswagen has unveiled the latest generation Beetle in Shanghai on the eve of the city’s motor show, marking a new era in this iconic car’s history. The latest generation moves away from design of the New Beetle of 1998 and instead draws on cues from the original and Beetle Ragster concept shown in Detroit in 2005. As such it’s longer, wider and lower, giving a more masculine and dynamic appearance.
The Beetle now measures 4,278 mm in length (+152 mm), 1,808 mm in width (+84 mm) and 1,486 in height (-12 mm). The track width front and rear, as well as the wheelbase at 2,537 mm, are also increased. Overseen by Walter de Silva (Volkswagen Group) and Klaus Bischoff (Volkswagen Brand), with Marc Lichte the team leader for exterior design, the car’s new proportions mean the roof extends back further, the windscreen is shifted back and the rear section is now more akin to that of the original Beetle. The boot capacity is a practical 310 litres, up from 209 litres in the 1998 model. The Beetle has four seats, with a split-fold rear seat for added versatility.
Inside the cabin, the Beetle’s designers created a modern, practical and distinctive appearance with easy to identify and ergonomic controls. Certain features, such as the glovebox and colour accent panels hark back to the original.
Three trim levels will be available – Beetle, Design and Sport – and each will be endowed with its own individual character and features. A wide range of innovative optional equipment will also be available, ranging from Keyless Access through satellite navigation systems and a panoramic sunroof to bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights – all of which are available for the first time on a Beetle.
In the UK, a choice of four engines will be offered: three petrol – a 1.2-litre TSI 105 PS, a 1.4-litre TSI 160 PS and a 2.0-litre TSI 200 PS; and one diesel – a 1.6-litre 105 PS with BlueMotion Technology. Thanks to the addition of Stop/Start and battery regeneration systems the Beetle 1.6-litre 105 PS is estimated to have a combined fuel consumption of 65.7 mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 112 g/km.
As well as being economical and environmentally sound, the Beetle is also built to be one of the safest cars on the road thanks not only to features such as standard ESP and six airbags but also a laser-welded and galvanised body structure which has one of the highest torsional rigidity values in the segment at 26,000 Nm/?. In addition the range-topping engine, the 2.0-litre 200 PS, will feature standard XDS electronic differential lock as fitted to the Golf GTI.
The new car will be available to order in the UK in the summer, with first cars arriving in showrooms early in 2012. More details will be available closer to launch.
When the original was launched in 1938, it was known simply as ‘the Volkswagen’, quickly acquiring a raft of nicknames from across the world. Whatever the name, its popularity is not in question, with 21.5 million sold in the past 73 years.
January 18th, 2012 BeetleOwnersClub
Don’t call it a Ragster. Though it shares its basic body shape with the slammed New Beetle that debuted at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the Volkswagen E-Bugster is a completely new concept that’s based on the latest version of VW’s iconic Beetle. And it’s electric.
That electric motor puts out 114-horsepower (85 kW) and 199 pound-feet of torque, which out to be plenty to get this squashed Bug down the road with a quickness. Range is listed at about 100 miles, courtesy of a 695-pound lithium ion battery pack that resides both under the rear seats and trunk floor. A charging port is located under the VW logo at the car’s nose, and, depending on the charger being used, an 80-percent charge can happen in just 30 minutes.
The electric drivetrain is only half of the story. The E-Bugster’s most distinctive styling element is no doubt its chopped roof, which, when combined with the wide, flat windshield, makes the E-Bugster look like a 2012 Beetle that’s seen a California-based plastic surgeon customizing shop. Also take not of the 20-inch wheels, which remind us a bit of the Fuchs wheels seen on many retro Beetles all around the country.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos from Detroit, and then watch a video that shows the E-Bugster topless after the break.
