After a year off, Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle returns longer, wider, lower and bolder than ever. In one of its classier iterations, this 4-seat, 2-door subcompact coupe is available as the 2012 Beetle White Turbo PZEV (Partial Zero-Emissions Vehicle).
Boasting turbocharged power and 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded, this venerable VW also packs a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and heated power-adjustable mirrors around its Black-Turbo-counterpointed white profile.
Inside, Titanium Black premium cloth upholstery adorns heated height-adjustable sport front seats with a tilting and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel bolstered by a leather-wrapped shift knob and simulated carbon fiber dashboard embellishments.
Cruise control is standard, as are air conditioning, floor mats front and rear, and Bluetooth hands-free communications, while entertainment is offered via a single-CD player with 8 speakers and an auxiliary MP3/iPod interface.
Optional equipment, meantime, includes the Sunroof, Sound and Nav Package, boasting a power sunroof, keyless ignition, a multifunction steering wheel, a 400-watt Fender premium sound system with 6-CD changer, 9 speakers, satellite radio and a memory-card slot and touchscreen display, and a flash-memory-based navigation system that adds its talents to the dashboard-mounted screen. All of the above, meantime, can be separated into just the Sunroof Package, just the Sound Package and just the Sound and Nav Package, with corresponding adjustments to offered features, including 19-inch upgraded wheels.
Additionally, the dazzling Beetle White Turbo PZEV can be delivered with splash guards, carpeted floor mats, leather upholstery, upgraded interior and exterior trim blandishments and/or a sport-tuned suspension.
Giving this latest Beetle incarnation its go is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder (I4) powerplant that meshes with either the standard 6-speed manual transmission or the available 6-speed auto-manual (DSG) gearbox for 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. Meantime, mileage estimates for this blown four-banger are 21 mpg city/30 highway in stick-shift-toting editions and 22/30 in auto-manual-bearing variants.
Notable standard safety features, finally, include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front head restraint whiplash protection. Further safety equipment delivered aboard the 2012 Beetle White Turbo includes daytime running lights, front fog/driving lights, cornering lights and a post-collision safety system.
