The brand-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will arrive in British showrooms next spring with a starting price of £16,490 OTR. However, the German firm is accepting orders from today.
In the UK, the new Beetle will launch with two available petrol engines, a 1.2-litre TSI unit with 105-horses linked to a seven-speed DSG transmission and a 1.4-litre TSI delivering 160HP with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Buyers can choose from three trim levels Beetle, Design and Sport. The 1.2-litre is offered in Beetle or Design trim from £16,490 (RRP OTR) and the 1.4-litre in Design or Sport trim from £19,470.
The based Beetle comes equipped with standard air conditioning, remote central locking, an RCD 310 CD system with DAB radio and rear Isofix seat preparation.
The mid-level Design grade adds 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth with MDI (multi-device interface) and iPod connectivity, front fog lights, an alarm, an RCD 510 DAB CD/radio, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-coloured door and dashboard panels.
The Sport trim brings in 18-inch alloys, tinted glass, cruise control, sports seats, parking sensors, gloss black door mirrors, dashboard and door panel and 2-Zone electronic climate control.
Volkswagen will further enhance the Beetle’s range in the UK with the introduction of three more powerplants including a 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion diesel with 105HP, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with 140HP and a 2.0-litre TSI petrol with 200HP, along with the option of a 6sp manual gearbox for the 1.2-litre TSI model, in the second half of 2012.
