LA MOTOR SHOW: VW Beetle for roofless people

Volkswagen has staged the world debut of its new Beetle Cabriolet, even before the new Beetle coupe upon which it is based goes on sale here in February.

VW Head of Design Klaus Bischoff was on hand in Los Angeles to remove the wraps from the new convertible variant of the manufacturer's latest homage to the original air-cooled Volkswagen.

Yet while the new car pays tribute to the first Volkswagens – and the Karmann-built soft-top models developed from them – it's not a car that looks backward, according to Mr Bischoff.

"Retro is not our thing; we are always looking forward. The Beetle Convertible was designed to have a more powerful and masculine stance on the road. And we have achieved this goal."

As inconsistent as that may seem, the latest Beetle Cabriolet is certainly larger than the model it replaces – 152mm longer at 4278mm, 84mm wider at 1808mm and boasting a larger boot capacity, raised 24 litres to 225.

As with the generation of new Beetle just superseded, this latest model is front-wheel drive and water-cooled, with the Cabriolet adopting the same underpinnings and drivetrain components as its hard-top sibling, but with a folding soft-top that goes from top up to top down in 9.5 seconds, even on the move – up to 50km/h.

In the US the new model will be powered by a choice of 103kW TDI turbodiesel or 147kW TSI turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines.

The Americans also have the option of a 125kW five-cylinder port-injected engine. European markets will not see the five-cylinder engine, but will offer buyers two other petrol engines (77kW and 118kW four-cylinders) in addition to a 77kW diesel.

Volkswagen in the US is introducing the new Cabriolet with three limited-editions celebrating each of the three decades the original Beetle Cabriolet models were produced – the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

In addition, the company plans to launch a tricked-up version of the Beetle Cabriolet, the R-Line, which is anticipated to reach the North American market in the northern hemisphere spring next year, at a price below $30,000.

As we’ve reported (/news/2012/sports/volkswagen/beetle/la-motor-show-lala-launch-for-beetle-cab-32856), the new Beetle Cabriolet will not be sold alongside the new coupe in Australia, where VW believes the folding hard-top Eos and Golf Cabrio drop-tops will serve its purpose.

That could change, however, following European reports that the current Eos is likely to be discontinued and be replaced by a larger soft-top.

“The Eos will not be prolonged when it comes off the market,” Autocar reported Mr Bischoff as saying at LA.

“Retractable hard-tops are disappearing from the market now, and to be honest that’s not something I mind.”

Autocar said Mr Bischoff confirmed that included in the 100 design studies his team is currently working on was a larger, full-size four-seater convertible.

“There’s definitely room in our line-up for a larger convertible, so why not do it?” he said. “The problem with such ambitions is that all our existing factories are at full capacity, so any new additions means building new factories.”

Volkswagen also launched its Jetta Hybrid to the buying public at the show. Previously unveiled in pre-production form at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the new model is not likely to be sold in Australia, where the task of selling hybrids is currently harder than selling diesel passenger cars.

More news and coverage of the 2012 LA Motor Show

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…

images: http://www.unitedpictures.eu/