Internationally, the Beetle comes with a host of engine options from the technologically rich VW Group, ranging from the small 1.4-litre inline-4 engine right up to the stonking 3.2-litre V6. The most popular remains the 2.5-litre inline-5 that most American Beetles come fitted with, and the 150bhp power output makes sure that the Beetle cruises smoothly and in style. It may not be the most powerful thing on the road, but the Beetle still comes with sureshot German build quality, comfortable on-road mannerisms and a rich sprinkling of features, enough to make the old mobile modern on the inside.
The car still carries 'new' Beetle name, even though the current model has been over a decade in production. The success of the car internationally has meant that there is little that needs to be changed - much in the spirit of the original Beetle. What has kept the brand fresh however are the limited run models and concept design studies (see box) that have kept the car's clique up. The retro-chic space that the Beetle operates has some newer and more competitive models too - the Fiat 500 and the MINI One are foremost in line - but whatever the new Beetle lacks in real world, it makes up for it with the space the brand holds in the hearts of millions across the world. That's the power of love for you, ready to sap out on Indian streets with style real soon!
The Name Game
The Volkswagen Type 1 is the world's longest running and most produced automobile of a single design - cars very close to the original design were made and sold in Mexico right up to 2003. What started off in 1938 as a People's Car for Germany became the de-facto sub-compact of the 1950s. It was sturdier, more powerful and faster - built for the Autobahns - despite its air-cooled engine and the unconventional rear-engine rear-wheel drive design that later went on to inspire Porsche's sports cars.
This was also around the time when the name 'Beetle' was officially adopted by Volkswagen to market the car. The car was fondly known as the ?Käfer? in Germany - beetle in the native tongue, and as the car became popular in English speaking countries the name Beetle emerged. Even though the official names of the car continued to be alphabets and numbers like the Type I or the 1200 in Europe, for its American campaign Volkswagen picked the name Beetle officially for the car, and the Bug has been crawling gaily across the globe since.
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