Test Drive of the Beetle Cabriolet | Volkswagen

Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet | Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet

Test Drive: The Beetle Cabriolet

Among Volkswagen's current model lineup, the most distinctive model is undoubtedly the "The BeetleThe Beetle." A descendant of the iconic "Beetle," the origin of Volkswagen, it now revels in freedom under the open sky.The Beetle Cabriolet Arrives in JapanAn impression from Satoshi Shiomi, who test drove it immediately!

Text by SHIOMI Satoshi
Photographs by ARAKAWA Masayuki

The Beetle: The Third Generation

From the late 1990s for about a decade, the automotive industry experienced a boom in revival designs.

Models like the BMW "Mini," Ford "Mustang," Chevrolet "Camaro," Fiat "500," and Toyota "FJ Cruiser" were launched one after another, aiming to recapture past glories. While some criticized the concept of developing new cars based on past hits as lacking originality, most of these models were accepted by a wide audience, including generations unfamiliar with the originals, and have become long-lived models. Considering this, perhaps, like music, it's acceptable once in a while.

A pioneer of that revival boom was the VW "New Beetle," created in '98 based on the fourth-generation Volkswagen (VW) "Golf."

Both the hardtop and the later-added cabriolet were well-executed cars, largely due to their Golf underpinnings. However, their near-symmetrical silhouette, not just left-to-right but also front-to-back, and their profile resembling three circles overlapping with slight offsets, gave them a funny and fancy appearance that might have felt a bit embarrassing for men to drive.

Furthermore, it carried the scent of a "limited production run" or a "one-hit wonder," akin to Nissan's Be-1, PaO, and Figaro of yesteryear.Pike carsin other words, the aura of a special project or a fleeting novelty.

Volkswagen New Beetle | Volkswagen New Beetle

Volkswagen The Beetle | Volkswagen The Beetle

However, VW apparently did not intend for the New Beetle to be a one-off, as it underwent a model change last year.

Given that the car was named "New Beetle," I was curious about the name of the new model, but it settled on "The Beetle."

Recently, at theGeneva Show, Ferrari announced its new model, the "LaFerrari", which also uses a similar approach. If interpreted, it might mean "The Definitive Beetle," suggesting it's a product of confidence.

Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet | Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet

Test Drive: The Beetle Cabriolet (Part 2)

Downsized Engine, Increased Torque

The Beetle Cabriolet has now been added and recently introduced to Japan.

Like the hardtop, it features a 1.2-liter inline-4 turbo TSI engine mounted transversely at the front, driving the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG). It produces a maximum output of 105ps at 5,000rpm and a maximum torque of 17.8kgm at 1,500-4,100rpm.

The New Beetle's 2-liter inline-4 naturally aspirated engine produced 116ps at 5,400rpm and 17.5kgm at 3,200rpm. While the maximum output is slightly lower, the maximum torque has increased slightly, and the torque band has widened. The vehicle weight is also 10kg less, and the transmission has been improved, indicating a definite enhancement in performance based on the specifications.

Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet | Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet

Twice the Enjoyment

In actual driving, thanks to the wide torque band of the turbo engine, sufficient torque is available whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed, regardless of engine speed, making it easy to drive. It's been a while since I test-drove the New Beetle Cabriolet, and my memory is hazy, so I can't definitively say it's become significantly more powerful. However, evaluating the new model on its own merits, the combination of a sufficiently powerful engine and a smooth transmission made for an enjoyable drive.

Compared to the hardtop, the body reinforcement has added 100kg to the weight, and while the gearing, including the final drive, has not been revised, the cabriolet's response did not feel sluggish at all, at least not to the touch.

And the enjoyment doubles when the top is down.

Compared to the New Beetle, The Beetle shares more design elements with the original Beetle, and the windshield is more steeply raked. This creates a strong sense of openness when seated inside. Despite this, the amount of wind buffeting is well-controlled. With the side windows up, even driving on the highway with the top down, my hair didn't get excessively messy. Well, my naturally curly perm doesn't really get ruffled anyway.

Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet | Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet

Test Drive: The Beetle Cabriolet (Part 3)

This Car is a Beetle

We are no longer in an era where we need to worry about body rigidity just because it's a convertible.

Even with The Beetle transformed into a cabriolet, there's no scuttle shake or creaking from various parts of the body. Being a soft-top, there is a certain amount of wind and road noise when the top is up, but it's not excessively intrusive.

While retractable hardtops might offer advantages in sound insulation and weatherproofing, this car is a Beetle. Its retro look is part of the appeal. The fact that it takes only 9.5 seconds to open and 11 seconds to close is a testament to the soft-top, and it's faster than many competing soft-top models. This is also part of the design that evokes the first generation, but unlike many soft-tops, the folded roof doesn't retract into the trunk; it mostly stacks behind the rear headrests.

This is also a design element reminiscent of the first generation, but the folded roof does not retract into the trunk; it mostly stacks behind the rear headrests.

Consequently, when driving with the top down, looking through the rearview mirror, the lower half of the view visible when the top was up is obscured. While this might be manageable in standard-height cars, it could be an issue in lower vehicles.

Of course, you can use the door mirrors, but it might take some getting used to. The fact that the rollover protection functions properly even with the cover over the folded top demonstrates VW's commitment to solid engineering.

Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet | Volkswagen The Beetle Cabriolet

Test Drive: The Beetle Cabriolet (Part 4)

One Grade

The equipment level is based on the higher-grade Leather Package of the hardtop model. Leather seats are fitting for the Cabriolet, both aesthetically and practically. They are easy to wipe clean if they get wet from sudden rain and don't easily accumulate dust. Seat heaters are also a welcome feature for a cabriolet.

While some importers give up on equipping Japanese-spec navigation systems, VW offers a navigation system with features comparable to the latest Japanese models, including real-time traffic information updates via online connectivity. The Beetle Cabriolet comes standard with this system.

Consequently, the price reaches 3.75 million yen, which is 720,000 yen more than the hardtop Leather Package version (3.03 million yen). At first glance, this might seem like an aggressive pricing strategy, but it is actually 480,000 yen cheaper than the "Golf Cabriolet" (4.23 million yen) and 350,000 to 450,000 yen cheaper than the Peugeot "308CC."

Enjoy It Your Way

Although the Beetle's origins lie in a people's car commissioned by the German regime during wartime, after the war, it became a symbol of the hippie movement, gaining popularity in the American market, which favored large, heavy cars, by appealing to its small size and agility with the slogan "Think small."

Since its revival, the Beetle has been freed from the somewhat rigid roles of being a "symbol of something" or a "people's car." It has become a car that those who like it can enjoy as they please.

I believe The Beetle Cabriolet is its latest, highly appealing iteration.

It seems fuel-efficient too.