Volkswagen does away with cutesy image of past Beetles in 2012 model. 06/24/2011
Volkswagen's new 2012 Beetle will hit the market this September. The latest version of the iconic German car is intended to shed its reputation of being a "cute car." It will also be shedding a few hundred dollars from its base cost. The 2010 model started at around $19,500 and the 2012 version will sell for approximately $18,995. Vehix.com reports that the price drop may be Volkswagen's effort to keep its pricing competitive.
The New Beetle will also be available with a turbocharged TSI four-cylinder engine. Four cylinders may not sound like much, but this model can produce about 200 horsepower without changing the fuel economy of the car, which is 10 percent better than the 2010 model. The new car gets around 30 miles to the gallon on the highway.
The German car company claims that the 2012New Beetle is also sleeker and more commanding that past models, which gives it a tougher appearance. The small flower vase that was affixed to the dashboard of the previous model is a thing of the past, according to CNN. Since it was first released in 1938, approximately 22.5 million Volkswagen Beetles have been sold.