Volkswagen Beetle Generations: Key Updates Across All Model Years

The Volkswagen Beetle is without doubt one of the most immediately recognizable and iconic vehicles to have ever been launched, and whereas the traditional mannequin remains to be the one most collectors and fans flock in direction of, we really feel the later Volkswagen Beetle generations are simply as deserving of time and respect. So, right here, we have damaged down the most recent VW Beetle fashions, and explored how each generation evolved from one to the next. Every era additionally has a hyperlink to our overview of the VW Beetle fashions by 12 months, must you want to look at a selected model-year in nearer element.

2017-2019 Volkswagen Beetle 2nd Gen (A5) Facelift

After quite a few years in manufacturing, Volkswagen made the choice to frivolously facelift the second-generation Beetle, in an effort to preserve it trying contemporary within the face of competitors. These Volkswagen Beetle fashions had been the final to be made, and no confirmation of any later VW Beetle generations has been given by the model, though some have speculated that the mannequin might return, perhaps even as an electric car.

The facelifted second-gen Beetle sported quite a few modifications on the outside, particularly sharper and extra aggressive fascias entrance and rear, plus a choice of new, retro-modern alloy wheel designs, which harked again to designs seen on the traditional and authentic fashions.

• Restricted version fashions, just like the Pink and Dune Beetle, added selection to the vary
• Volkswagen had dropped the five-cylinder and diesel engine by this level
• Trims such because the SEL benefited from new tech as normal

The favored SEL grade Beetle noticed Fender premium audio, park distance management, and dual-zone local weather management develop into normal. Whereas patrons had been arguably given extra alternative in some respects, because of a spread of latest restricted version fashions, in some methods the facelift patrons had much less alternative additionally, as each the diesel and inline-five engine decisions had been dropped from the vary by this level.

2012-2016 Volkswagen Beetle 2nd Gen (A5)

After the discontinuation of the Volkswagen ‘New Beetle’, the German automaker clearly felt the mannequin had established itself as greater than only a enjoyable retro experiment, and was as soon as once more a welcome member of VW’s core line-up. Because of this, the ‘New’ was dropped, leaving us as soon as extra with merely ‘Beetle’. This second-gen mannequin did little to disrupt the clearly very profitable method taken by the New Beetle, arriving with related retro-modern styling, and a plethora of respectably highly effective but dependable and environment friendly powertrains.

Inside, the second-gen mannequin had been completely redesigned, and now sported a variety of latest and improved creature comforts, akin to up to date infotainment methods, higher audio, improved supplies for the seats, dashboard, and key touchpoints, plus trendy tweaks – akin to dash-mounted gauges, and a choice of thrilling duo-tone colorways on particular version, akin to thr ultra-cool GSR Beetle.

• New powertrains livened up the mannequin vary, with a choice of boosted engines made accessible, together with a torquey diesel too
• A contemporary re-design gave the Beetle a brand new lease of life, with daring alloy wheel designs, Bi-Xenon headlights, and thrilling equipment – akin to a spoiler, and panoramic roof

The largest change, maybe, occurred beneath the hood. As a substitute of merely providing one engine choice just like the previous mannequin, Volkswagen upped their recreation and gave patrons the selection of 4 totally different engines. The bottom was a 2.5-liter inline-five, which was dependable, if a little bit lackluster. These with a heavier proper foot might choose from two turbocharged gasoline engines – the extra highly effective of which was accessible with a six-speed guide – and VW even included a turbo-diesel option, too.