Test Drive Volkswagen Beetle since 2011 Hatchback

Private opinion. Test new Volkswagen Beetle

Any test or article on the car theme is always a private opinion. This material about the new Volkswagen bug is no exception. Then why such a blatant banality in the title? Just the entire test route I was driving and thought: how many Volkswagen clients are the same as I, for whom after the release of the new Beetle Hatch scirocco just stopped exist? Such is an unobtrusive private opinion, and now I will try to justify it.


The new beetle is already twice new. The first appeared in 1998 and fully submitted to the pacifist concept of Flower-Power. He even had a standard vase flask under the flower on the front panel. The second reincarnation beetle has no vase, and its appearance no longer flies with the power of colors. No hippie and no sentimentality only charisma and clear references to the famous Letham. For example, the BEETLE Box's upper box was the same and the original machine. Or silhouette with a humpback back. Or wheels with chrome caps.


Near the parking lots of test beetles, we were caught New Beetle with a tuning of front optics, which bestows the essence of the previous car. Twice in one river are not included, and last time VW did not come out again to play on the soft painter of the pacifista turned out rather a girl toy than charismatic retro. The new beetle not only gives tribute to the original ancestor, but also sports and tighten

The new beetle is even a different name against the name of the predecessor of New Beetle just beetle, without any neo-consoles. Now this is the car youth, and the absolute unisex. Unlike the previous generation, it will be absolutely suitable for girls, and boys need to simply choose the execution correctly. Fortunately, it is from anything: 5 engines, 3 transmissions, 3 configurations and many options. And in terms of appearance, you can choose not only from body colors, but also from various accessories like the rear spoiler, stickers on the body or wheel drives, sometimes very original or daring design.


Well, how not to give for this cute nameplate on the trunk lid some 49 euros?

When ordering a bug, you can choose different options for decorating the exterior. For example, a pair of contrast strips along the entire body on the front of the roof and the trunk or stickers on the bottom of the doors with the inscription Beetle, Bug or Turbo. We went to the test trip to the bug on the nicknamed Bug, judging by the decolates and nameplates. Therefore, could not connect to the standard multimedia system (in a branded branding) iPhone with music? After all, one of the meanings of this word glitch. The Germans promised to figure out.


If the former New Beetle was cut off from the appearance of Volkswagen, then the new beetle, despite all his charisma, it absolutely fits the face in the modern model line of the brand

But something in the image is still not enough. Look at the photo above in this perspective just poured Porsche 911! Comparison of flattering, but not a lot of seriousness for such a youth machine? And this bumper ... Yes, this is now every second Volkswagen! There is a feeling that the design was painted, starting from the back, and the artists lost all inspiration and left the nose of the former new beetle. As a result, half of the beetle imitates the original machine, and half of the 1998 model. Disharmony, however.


The size of the disks available for the beetle to 19 inches! While the motors are becoming less, the wheels are adjusted in size. The same Astra GTC is generally offered with rinks up to 20 inches, so that the beetle here is not a record holder. But according to the originality of the designs of the disks, it is few who shake

Following the modern fashion to reduce the working volume and the livestock turbine, Volkswagen offers a new beetle only in the upgrade versions, whether it is gasoline or diesel. Petrol motors Three: 1.2 TSI with a capacity of 105 horses, 1.4 TSI, with a capacity of 160 hp, which are blewed together with a turbine and compressor, and 2.0 TSI about 200 power forces. Diesels 105-strong 1.6 liter volume and 2-liter 140-strong. Gearbox 6-speed mechanics or DSG robot about 6 or 7 steps, depending on the motor. To my personal happiness, there were only mechanical machines on the presentation, so the twin-charger car with a motor of 1.4 liters and on the road, to ride the transfer of a clear hexistree on Portuguese serpentines.


The engine sounds pale, and the release is almost not heard. Behind them, the overwhelming valve of the upgrade motor is being faded, and even heard only with lowered windows yes on a quiet street

Although it says loudly. With the transmission lever, everything is fine, but the clutch pedal is good only for pushing in traffic jams. It has a long move, and the clutch mechanism itself is so arranged that with sharp shifts it is impossible to do without unpleasant jerks, and it interferes a little bit away. There is in this and the wines of the engine, which, being disconnected with the wheels, still does not rush to reset the turns even when the gas released. But this is, by and large, little things. The main thing is that the beetle pulls perfectly, even if you choose the transfers will be a random number generator, the compressor is reliably in the zone of low revolutions, where the sleeping turbine is powerless. But all this we know and on scirocco with the same engine. And what in turns?


It became a surprise that Beetle was very comfortable on the track and somehow grinds the feeling of speed. What do you think, how much do we go?, Asked me a partner. Well, one hundred twenty, I replied. And made a mistake of 50 kilometers per hour

The previous Novojuk was made on the basis of the fourth generation then golf. The current also divides the trolley with golf, only sixth. And accordingly, with the hatch scirocco. Therefore, sitting behind the wheel, I simply represented what to wait from the car in the devias. A clear steering wheel with understandable effort, tenacious tires, hard (it is especially felt by the rear passengers) suspension and reliable in reasonable limits of the brakes make the beetle with a desirable guest on narrow winding tracks. Of course, not an annular car, but quite a car for the driver. The scirocco is inevitably remembered again to say who is better not jumping from one machine to another. Subjectively beetle seems to be slightly more so-cooked and overlooking the case in a slightly shorter base and a narrower back of a kae with respect to the front. But the difference is still at the level of the nuances. Then why the beetle?

And at least because he has a cool interior! No, steep not materials in this just beetle the one more rattle, which loses with its hard and humid plastic and golf, and scirocco. In the interior of the beetle like the items. For example, loops are made on medium racks, which play the role of ceiling handles, and in the pockets of the front doors there are comfortable and stylish gum-locks instead of banal plastic. Upper glove box Shallow, but convenient, and the front panel finish in the color of the MINI style adds charm. Just do not make mistakes with color. At first I traveled on a red car and thought that the aliens of the salon panels are topless. But the next day I spent in the beetle with the panel under Carbon. Perhaps it is still absurd by the film only the film, which I entered my first car ...


The ring around the dynamics in the door is highlighted. Like in Kia Soul, only much softer

Everything is good and with the space of the cabin space for the feet enough for all four, and it is not more difficult to climb back to other three-year. The head remembers the roof of Scirocco over the rear sofa is not with the best side. Inside the new Beetle behind the problems, almost 2 centimeters of additional space appeared in the back of the head. A very elongated roof back can be considered a success not only designers who gave her a charismatic silhouette, but also interiorners who have made normal rear places.

Separately, it is worth saying about music. For the beetle, the optional 400 watt Fender audio system is offered with 8 speakers plus a subwoofer in the trunk. It is established for the surcharge of only 650 euros (in the case of the beetle) in the Beetle, Passat and Jetta model. Over the development of this music, specially for Volkswagen worked specials of the famous American guitar firm Fender and sounds of an equally famous Panasonic office. This is an imaging audio system for very modest money, so buy a beetle without music FENDER care that you want a phaeton with a rag salon. The average frequencies and especially the voice sound amazing for such a volume of the cabin and class of the machine, and the patience of the ears of the ordinary listener will end earlier than on a certain volume of the speakers will begin to issue distortion. Cool music!

During the test worships in Portugal, with a partner in search of beautiful frames drove in a small town Barreir. Thought beach, and turned out to be the port. There, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, all the kabaks are clogged with a bit, and the streets go on the streets ... Africans. We will be politically correct. In hoods with hoods, baseball caps with straight visors and with a unkind look. While they rode the streets and absorbed the local flavor, we noticed that it was invisible for the Portuguese and as if a basketball ball like their guests from Africa. It turns out the whole thing in wheels! Our chromachi attracted the appropriate attention and forced them to turn off entire companies of African lovers of shiny. But this is the standard car option. Bravo designers, Must Have, along with acoustics Fender.


Thanks to the bold designers and practical engineers who made the mirror surface of the plastic wheels and, apparently, replaceable. Therefore, such discs can be safely exploited even in Moscow salty conditions.

A set of external decorations also includes special nameplates on our feed, the word Bug is laid out on silver letters. Such an option Rodnit the beetle is not with someone, but with the Porsche 911 itself! In the latter, by the way, the number 911 on the stern costs 5 and a half thousand rubles. Unfortunately, on the beetle such information is still not available to us. Because Russian prices, as well as time, and volumes of delivery to us are still unknown. It is the prices and not enough for my private opinion to become finally unshakable.


In two days, the test drive I could not get used to the Beetle dimensions. The nose shape does not give to feel the edge of the body, so the slope on the narrow tracks is given on the beetle with difficulty

But for a landmark take a look at the Germans. By the way, they have a car already selling a couple of cars. I met in Munich during a recent test drive Wagon Passat Alltrack. In Germany, the most affordable Beetle (1.2 TSI 105 forces) costs 16,950 euros against 22,825 euros for the minimum Scirocco (1.4 TSI 122 forces). Take the same motors at least it will be two-chapted 1.4 TSI (160 forces): 19 825 against 24,425 euros. Okay, the beetle is easier to complete. Take Beetle performed by Design and again bugs at a price of 20,800 euros more affordable scirocco! If a similar scirocco costs 1,052,000 rubles in Russia, then I want to believe that the beagon of the average equipment will do it cheaper than a million. And it will be a good deal!


The old advertising slogan of the original beetle sounds like this: It Runs and Runs and Runs ... In the light of the stated economy of the beetle, he gains a new meaning. For example, Volkswagens claim that with a tank capacity of 55 liters and exhausting of diesel 4.5 liters Beetle with a 1.6 liter diesel engine can drive without refueling 1222 km! That is, for example, to jumble from Lisbon to Frankfurt am Main through Portugal, Spain, France and Germany with just one refueling!

Total Europeans offer three configurations: Beetle, Design and Sport in order of increasing their twist. The most friendly filling of the beetle Motor 160 is strong, as it is combined with any complete set. Meanwhile, 105-strong motors do not mean the performance of Sport, and the top 2-liter turbo engine in 200 forces only with it is offered. Among possible beams for any version there are stylish branded sensors in the podium above the multimedia system. Three separate dials are derived oil temperature, pressure and time pressure. At the same time, the clock with a built-in chronometer for serpentine-ring exercises. The practical benefits of such window meters in the car without tuning is doubtful, but the style adds definitely!

It turns out, the new beetle plays in the same league as Scirocco, it is only cheaper, looks fresh and has a charisma of the famous Fatherhood. There is more life, more soul and mood. Yes, he might be even better if the artists did not forget to work on the design of the face and added a light in the form of an excess sound. But in the current form, I no longer have reasons to think about Scirocco. Beetle cooler! But this is only a private opinion.

Security


According to the European NCAP Evaluation Program (Euro NCAP), a new beetle safe car. His ability to put at least injuries to all participants in the road accident are estimated by the highest rating of 5 stars. According to the results of krash tests, both adults (92 percent of protection) and children (90 percent of protection) remained and unhappy, regardless of whether the front is a shot or side. But with pedestrians, everything is not so smooth: the bumper is extremely delicated with the legs of a shot down passenger, but the hood experts counted dangerous. The final assessment of the protection of pedestrians is 53 percent.

Story
It is difficult to meet a person who has never heard of the Volkswagen beetle. This car was produced without fundamental change of the platform from 1938 to 2003 and became an absolute record holder of the road longevity. In total, more than 21.5 million beetles of various versions and modifications were made in different parts of the globe. In almost every world, the car officially known as Volkswagen Type 1 or Beetle got his nickname. Basically, this is the translation of the word beetle to the appropriate language, but there were other options somewhere bugly called a frog, and somewhere and a turtle.

It is curious that in parallel with the official name Beetle behind the beetle, the alternative nickname of BUG was quickly fixed. This is due to the fact that in the English language, bumbly insects are designated two common words: with the most general translation, the word Bug can be translated as a bug (general), and Beetle is like a beetle (private). In the future, Volkswagen did not disappear from the second nickname and, as we see, herself enjoys them with pleasure.

Beetle (or German Kafer) became the founder of the segment of European compact cars. At the same time, it was truly popular: a simple rear design with a 25-strong air cooling engine provided it with the maximum cheapness in manufacturing and maintenance. Easy and reliability is confirmed by the fact that it was subsequently created a variety of cars. For example, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia coupe, the TRANSPORTER T1 cult minibus or the Kbelwagen army SUV.

In the fifties, an event rear window was significant for fans of the beetle, the rear window turned out of separate into the solid, sharing the car to pre-reform and restyled. Accordingly, today they are valued in different ways from fans and collectors. And in 1967, the inner iron of the model has changed significantly, for example, the new engine larger engine began to issue 54 hp. In the seventies, the front of the beetle became more elongated, more modern suspension and equipment of the cabin appeared. With various changes, the beetle was produced in Mexico, Brazil, Australia and other countries of the world until 2003 (the latter was Mexico). The car left many traces in motor racing, various cultures, literature and cinema.

Dmitry Laskov
Photo: Dmitry Laskov and Volkswagen


 

Source: AUTO.Mail.Ru.