So far Volkswagen has only released images of the 2013 Beetle Convertible with its top down. The car will be fully revealed at the Los Angeles Motor Show next month.
With the tagline “It stole your heart. Now it’s back for your breath.” Volkswagen is breathing fresh life into one of the most classic and iconic cars of our generation. Initially slated to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show next month, Volkswagen had aimed to whet drivers’ appetites by revealing the 2013 Beetle Convertible ahead of time.
The “new original” 21st century Beetle carries on its shoulders the weight of the famous legend, and will be the third generation of convertible VW Beetle to be produced. The first and original Beetle was launched in 1949, and sold over 330 000 units up until 1980, before the second generation was released in 2002. The Beetle’s distinctive silhouette has turned the Beetle into something of a cult figure, and the third generation convertible retains that while giving the design a sleeker and sportier contour. The new Beetle sports a flatter roof and more upright windshield, making it look more like the original Beetle Cabriolet.
This Volkswagen soft-top offers practicality and open-top convertible family driving. The roof, when down, lays completely flat which enables the driver to see properly out the rear of the car, while the fully-insulated roof closes and opens mechanically in around 10 seconds and up to driving speeds of 48km/h. According to Volkswagen the extra weight of the roof does not negatively affect the car’s fuel economy, which is rated at a respectable 17.4 km per litre.
The Beetle retains the spacious interior of previous models, allowing the car to be a fully-functional four-seater and family car. The boot size is a serviceable 225 litres and the split rear bench can be folded down to allow transport of bigger items – even when the roof is closed.
With Volkswagen’s emphasis on safety, the 2013 Beetle will feature fixed A-pillars to provide protection for the vehicle's occupants in conjunction with the two rollover modules that are immediately activated through the central airbag’s triggering unit. Other safety features include highly advanced airbags as standard.
Volkswagen will also be releasing three retro-styled editions of the convertible in celebration of the 21st century Beetle. These will feature elements borrowed from certain time periods. The 50’s, 60’s and 70’s special editions will have interior and exterior design features like colours and whitewall tyres appropriate to their respective decades.
The 2013 Beetle should be available for ordering in Germany around November 2012, but no news or prices have been released regarding the model’s release in South Africa. Volkswagen South Africa has recently released the prices for the standard 21st Century Beetle range - which come in a Design and Sport model - and these range from R235 400 for the Design to R311 100 for the Sport DSG. While the automaker has not announced any plans to release the Convertible version in South Africa, you can expect prices to be slightly higher for the Convertible than the hard-top.
Visit MyCars.co.za to see great deals on used Beetles for sale.
Image sourced from Volkswagen.