New VW Beetle Diesel with up to 41mpg Priced from $23,295* in the States

The third and by far the most fuel efficient model in the new VW Beetle's U.S. lineup, the new TDI clean diesel, has finally been priced following a previous announcement about its availability in the States in February.

Prices for the new Beetle TDI start at $23,295 for the six-speed manual gearbox model and at $24,395 for the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission option, with all prices excluding a destination charge of $770 (*).

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New 2013 VW Beetle Fender Edition Revealed, Hits Stores this Fall

After the positive reaction it received at last year's Frankfurt International Auto Show, Volkswagen decided to build a production version of the Beetle Fender Edition Concept , which will make its world premiere at the Auto Mobil International show in Leipzig, Germany, on June 2.

The 2013 VW Beetle Fender Edition will go on sale in certain markets around the world including Europe and the U.S. from this fall, with pricing to be announced at a later date.

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Photo Tour of Volkswagen's Southern Wörthersee Fest in Georgia

Did you know that the Volkswagen Group has been hosting a Wörthersee Tour in North America for the past six years?

Though not as famous as its namesake in Austria, which is by far the largest gathering of Volkswagen enthusiasts in the world, this year's edition of the Southern Wörthersee Tour was attended by some 8,200 visitors in 3,800 cars.

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Next VW Beetle Convertible Said to Launch with Several Retro-Flavored Editions

Even though Volkswagen executives have said that the recent E-Bugster Concept shown in Detroit in January and Beijing in April hints at the design of the next Beetle Convertible, our closest look at the open-top model comes from our spy pictures of the camouflaged prototypes.

For the final production variant, we will reportedly have to wait until the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of November (unless it debuts at the Paris Salon this September).

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Next VW Beetle Convertible Said to Launch with Several Retro-Flavored Editions

Even though Volkswagen executives have said that the recent E-Bugster Concept shown in Detroit in January and Beijing in April hints at the design of the next Beetle Convertible, our closest look at the open-top model comes from our spy pictures of the camouflaged prototypes.

For the final production variant, we will reportedly have to wait until the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show at the end of November (unless it debuts at the Paris Salon this September).

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ABT Launches Tuning Program for New 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

After its motor show debut in Geneva last month, ABT Sportline has now announced the commercial launch of its modification package for the second generation of the New Volkswagen Beetle.

The German aftermarket firm starts with a power kit for the Beetle's 2.0-liter TFSI that bumps output from 197hp (200PS) to 236hp (240PS).

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ABT Launches Tuning Program for New 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

After its motor show debut in Geneva last month, ABT Sportline has now announced the commercial launch of its modification package for the second generation of the New Volkswagen Beetle.

The German aftermarket firm starts with a power kit for the Beetle's 2.0-liter TFSI that bumps output from 197hp (200PS) to 236hp (240PS).

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Ward's Automotive Names the 10 Best Car Interiors in the 2012 Class

It's that time of the year again when Ward's Automotive announces its annual 10 Best Interiors list. For 2012, the magazine's editorial staff evaluated 40 vehicles with new or significantly improved interiors for the 2012 or 2013 model years and came up with 10 winners regardless of price (see last year's winners here).

"We saw a tremendously diverse group of interiors this year, and it's obvious to us that auto makers are pushing their design staffs harder than ever for interiors that are beautifully appointed, well equipped and extremely comfortable," commented WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

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2013 VW Beetle Cabriolet Now Rumored to go on Sale Next Year, gets Diesel Option in North America

Originally thought to debut at the ongoing 2012 New York Auto Show, the next generation of the Beetle Convertible is now said to make its world premiere at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this fall before it reaches dealerships in the first quarter of 2013, or at least that's what company officials told Car&Driver.

Volkswagen's North American execs added that the drop-top version of the new generation of the Beetle would be offered with the "same exact powertrain lineup as the coupe", which means a diesel option will also be on the table.

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Killing Machine: 1973 VW Beetle with a Subaru WRX STI 2.0-liter Turbo Engine

If you believe that even with its run-of-the-mill 44bhp 1.3-liter air-cooled engine, the 1970's Volkswagen Beetle is a tough car to handle on the road, then you can only imagine what it would be like to try and control a Bug fitted with the zappy 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine from a Subaru Impreza WRX STi…

To make matters worse, the German dealer who listed the converted Beetle STi on a Romanian car sales website called 'Webcar' doesn’t mention anything about suspension upgrades.

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1964 Volkswagen Hippie Bus is a Blast from the Past

You may know it by different names such as the Type 2, Transporter, Bulli, Kombi and Hippie bus, but Volkswagen's classic van is one vehicle that you will never confuse with something else.

Found for sale on eBay is a meticulously restored example of the Volkswagen Dormobile Kombi Deluxe Model Micro Split Window Screen Bus (try saying that twice) from 1964.

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ABT Sportsline to Debut New VW Up!, Beetle and Audi Tunes in Geneva

The Geneva Salon may not be the prime place for tuners, but it is one of the two most important motor shows in Europe together with the Frankfurt and Paris events that alternate each year, and as such, big players in the industry like ABT Sportsline always have something new to show.

At this year's event, ABT will debut several new tuned models including the Volkswagen Up! and Beetle, and the Audi AS6 Avant and QS3 crossover.

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SPY SHOTS: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet is Almost Ready for its Debut

It won't be long before VW officially presents the 2013 Beetle Cabriolet, as according to sources, the world premiere is planned for the New York Auto Show this April ahead of an on-sale-date later in the year, but our scoop photographers snagged new shots of a nearly camouflage-free prototype while undergoing its final tests.

The test car seen in these photos featured a trick disguise around the headlamps, the lower part of the front bumper and the taillights to make it look like the older model.

Just like its predecessor, the new Beetle Cabriolet, also known as a Convertible in certain markets, comes with a traditional folding soft top and seating for four.

The new Cabriolet will have a stiffer body structure, resulting in less shake and improved handling.

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New VW Beetle gets a 39mpg Diesel Variant in the States

At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, Volkswagen will reveal the most fuel-efficient version of the new Beetle in the States, the TDI, which is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine producing 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of peak torque. The same powerplant is offered on the North American Jetta and Passat TDI models.

The diesel engine can be mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or VW’s dual-clutch DSG six-speed automatic, with the German automaker predicting a fuel economy of 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.

That's a significant improvement over the base 170HP 2.5-liter gasoline engine that returns an estimated 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with a five-speed manual, and 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the optional six-speed auto.

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Volkswagen's New Super Bowl Ad will Make You Miss Little Darth Vader

Admittedly, Volkswagen's advertising agency had some pretty big shoes to fill with its 2012 Super Bowl ad after last year's game day commercial "The Force", which has since garnered some 50 million views on the company's own YouTube channel alone, but we're not so sure it has succeeded with the "The Dog Strikes Back".

The German company aired today the extended 75-second long spot online with the 60-second version of the ad running in the second quarter of the Big Game on February 5.

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VW E-Bugster Study Zooms into the Detroit Auto Show

If you liked Volkswagen's approach with the new Beetle then chances are you're going to give a thumbs up to the E-Bugster study that made its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show this week.

Wider, lower and sportier looking that the regular Beetle, the concept's name blends the words "E" (for electric), "Bug" and "speedster". It's closest relative is the similarly styled Ragster study back from 2005.

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Volkswagen's E-Bugster Concept is an All-Electric Beetle Hot Rod

At the 2005 North American International Show, Volkswagen introduced the New Beetle Ragster concept. It was a second-generation Beetle convertible with a much lower roofline and its name was conjured by crossing the words “ragtop” and “speedster”.

Fast-forward six years, and the “People’s Car” company (for that’s what Volkswagen literally means in German) is launching a similar concept at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show .

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Volkswagen to Debut Beetle-Based Electric Hot Rod at the Detroit Motor Show

We just learned that Volkswagen's surprise debut at next week's 2012 North American International Motor Show in Detroit will be a pure-electric concept model based on the new generation of the Beetle – despite previous reports saying otherwise.

The conceptual EV version of the recently launched 2012 Beetle will sport a heavily modified body with a lowered roof and wider fenders with its looks slightly resembling the Volkswagen Ragster Concept (pictured above) that was displayed at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show.

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VW to Return to Super Bowl with New 60-Second Ad on the 2012 Beetle

There's no doubt that this year's Super Bowl XLV played host to some original commercials but the one ad that stood out more than the rest was "The Force" from Volkswagen, the official YouTube version of which has garnered over 45 million views since it aired on February 2.

Volkswagen actually aired one more commercial during the game, the “Black Beetle”, which has been seen by more than 5 million viewers on the German firm's channel.

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Euro NCAP: Two Chinese Models get 4 Stars for Safety, Malibu and Beetle Awarded with 5 Stars

The results are in for Euro NCAP’s fifth and last launch of 2011. A total of 14 cars were tested including two Chinese newcomers, the MG6 and the Geely Emgrand EC7, both of which achieved a four star rating, proving that at least some Chinese brands are starting to take safety seriously.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General commented: "These results mark a milestone for the Chinese automotive industry. It is a clear sign that Chinese car makers are building on recent experiences and rapidly investing in better vehicle safety. Even with the upcoming increased demands, five stars are expected to be within reach soon."

Four more vehicles that are new were given a four-star rating, including the Fiat Panda, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jaguar XF and the EV Renault Fluence ZE.

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