Here are two things you need to know about the Volkswagen Beetle. Firstly, that it is an icon that name drops two legends – Adolf Hitler who commissioned it; and Ferdinand Porsche, of Porsche motorcars fame, who originally created it in 1938. The second thing is that this current version of the Beetle is essentially a reinterpretation of a reinterpretation. Confused? Read on.
Though the original Beetle was the car your parents owned in the 1960s, it eventually fell into decline, leading Volkswagen to release a fresh ‘new’ version in 1998, which sat among other trendy vehicles like the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500. This year’s release is a reincarnation of the 1998 model. But unlike the previous make, which was more fashion accessory than speedy companion, the Volkswagen has rectified that issue with a more masculine design and a zippy 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger engine.]
Gone are the bulbous lines and cutesy accessories. You’ll notice a flatter roofline, an elongated bonnet and a lower, wider stance than its predecessor, which fortunately, makes it look a lot less girly.
That Twincharger motor mentioned earlier may sound small as compared to other meatier offerings, but it works by mating a turbocharger with a supercharger resulting in a boost that will take you from 0-100kph in 8.3 seconds. For something that’s meant to function as your daily workhorse, you can’t complain. At 160bph of power, it’s adequate for Singapore roads. You’ll also get 240Nm of torque on tap from 1,500 rpm to 4,500rpm, which doesn’t feel too bad when you get that extra thrust going.
