The Beetle is undoubtedly one of the most iconic cars in the world - it brought transport to the masses and was also the star in the Herby series. Like the Mini, it's come a long way since the sixties but the charm of the original is very much there.
Volkswagen has made changes to the range to freshen it up and has also added the R-Line trim, which will replace the Sport trim. It will be offered in a coupe, cabriolet and also a crossover - thanks to the new Dune spec. The base model starts from £16,820 for the 1.2 litre petrol coupe version.
Beetle gets the R-Line treatment
The new Beetle will now receive the R-Line trim, in place of the Sport trim level and will be powered by a 2.0 litre TDI diesel which produces a respectable 150bhp. This can be mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed DSG setup. As the R-Line trim has an emphasis on sport you can expect styling to match - a new front bumper is on display which features extra air intakes as well as 18" alloy wheels.
Other sporty details include a body-coloured rear diffusor, chrome exhaust pipes and a rear spoiler, plus it boasts sports suspension to get a more dynamic handling package. On the inside there is a leather steering wheel which bears the R-Line logo and coloured stitching. The same logos can be found on the headrests of the Kyalami cloth seats.
Not all about the R-Line though
It's not just the R-Line that Volkswagen has focused on though, the lower spec Design models feature new styling for the dashboard and dials. The upholstery has been revised as well and there are plenty of personalisation options to truly make the Beetle your own.
If you're looking for something a bit more roughy and ready, you can opt for the new Dune model which gives a rugged look and harks back to the Dunes seen on the West Cost of America in the sixties and seventies. To help it off-road the ride has been raised by 10mm which should be fine on the beach but is likely to struggle when the going gets a bit more tough.
They've made it in Car Obsession colours - nice