Motoring: Iconic VW Beetle returns... Or has it?

How do you redesign an icon?

 

This was the dilemma of engineers in Ingolstadt, Germany when they started tinkering with the Beetle in 1997. The goal was to give the well loved “people’s car” a new and more aggressive look with hints of the original bug as we knew it prior to the redesign. 

 

But...

 

Despite the hype and retro styling of the new generation Beetle, it never seemed to have caught on. In fact, it seemed to have failed in replicating the success of its Grandfather. 

 

The third generation Beetle – dubbed as the “A5” – shares a platform with the Volkswagen Jetta.

 

Built in Puebla, Mexico alongside the Golf and Jetta, the A5 was reintroduced in 2010 with much fanfare: advertisements at the Super Bowl and Oprah Winfrey giving away a VW Beetle in her show as part of the promo and marketing to push the redesigned model. 

 

From all the effort and hype, VW sold 95,313 A5 units from 2010 to 2013. In third quarter of 2014, 18,580 Americans again fell in love with the Beetle. 

 

Compared with the 1997 version, the A5 is longer at 4,278 mm (168.4 in.), lower in profile at 12 mm (0.5 in.), and wider at 88 mm (3.5 in.). The trunk is now 310 L (11 cu. ft.) from 209 L (7.4 cu. ft.). 

 

The differences are obvious and quite catchy on the outside, with bigger HiD headlight clusters and a sporty smile running across the bumper. The rear end gets a rear spoiler and more pronounced tail lights. My test unit features black “racing” stripes running from end to end, a design element, obviously inspired by the “R” line Beetle version. 

 

Stepping inside the cabin reminded me of the old Beetle that I drove during my college days. 

 

The design engineers brought back the flat, body colored, metal dashboard with an infotainment system at the center and a retro style trunk. I love the three-ring gauge clusters and the meaty flat-bottomed steering wheel is perfect even for ham-handed Pinoys like me. 

 

They installed a small glass container for putting in some fresh flowers. The in-dash controls are idiot-proof, and the seats are firm and provide good lumbar support. 



Transport solution

 

However, the rear seats can best be described as a transport solution because legroom is tight. It is not an issue for the average Pinoy, 5’5” and under. It becomes a problem for taller ones who would likely slump for want of space at the back. 

 

What the A5 lacks in legroom, the car makes up for trunk space. The folding rear seats allow for a 50:50 split ratio – enough to accommodate 905 liters of cargo. 

 

The ride is composed with the Beetle gamely absorbing the ruts marking the streets of Metro Manila. On a trip down South, this hatchback is fun to drive, with the 1.4 liter turbo TSi engine holding its own along the stretch of the SLEX. The decent lump of torque from zero to 60 makes this Beetle spiffy off the line and round about town. It is versatile. Shifting gears is impressive and smooth, and the car revs without a whim in overtake maneuvers. 

 

I dropped the shifter into Sport Mode and the transmission hangs a bit longer on the gears for acceleration and is more eager to downshift, which transform this Beetle into a "Superbug."

 

Driving the VW Beetle enthusiastically translates into a fuel consumption of six kilometers per liter, while cruising between to 70 to 80kph delivered a more fuel efficient results of 10 kilometers per liter. 

 

While Beetle enthusiasts may mull over their reservations on the latest iteration covering its image, the P1,790,000 sticker price, and rear seating issues, this A5 offers a much broader appeal than its predecessor. The car has an excellent drivetrain – the components that convey power to the wheels, chassis and engine. It’s really the pride of German engineering. – VS, GMA News