The VW Beetle 2016 stays rooted to its legacy even while being the modern city car

To a car-nut like me, the name Hitler brings to mind a different image, an iconic automobile. The VW Beetle. A car that has never changed its DNA in its 70-year history run, a car that has been given different names in different countries for its iconic shape – VW Kafer in Germany and The Bug in the States. Around the world, the car equates to greatness.

The thought of building a people’s car came to the Fuhrer while serving a long sentence in one of the German jails. He dreamt of building special motorways (Autobahns) and also to mass-produce a car, which would curb the unemployment menace. Once out of prison and in power, Hitler got Ferdinand Porsche to work on this dream project of his. The brief given to Porshe was very clear and precise. It had to be a car with an air-cooled engine, capable of achieving a speed of 62 mph and 42 miles per gallon, with room enough to accommodate 2 adults and 3 children. And most importantly it was to come at a price no more than £86.

After ups and downs, the first Beetle as rolled out of the production line in 1938 and almost three-quarters of a century later; it continues to follow the same elementary design cues. Here I was 78 years later admiring the beauty

Design and Features

The 2016 Volkswagen Beetle incorporated a few modern design cues and elegant-yet-retro body lines. In the 2016 Beetle watch out for the clear lens bi-xenon headlamps with Daytime Running Lights (DRL). The hood looks the same but as you move closer you find modern but beautiful lines laid out in an elegant manner. The air dams and the neatly placed fog lamp/indicator assembly give the car a conventional yet sporty front end. The rear led tail lamps and the boot lid is designed to make you fall in love with it.

The wheel arches with its masculine bulges along with the 16-inch alloys. Though the rear view mirrors look like it’s been lifted from Polo, it gels well. Once you step in, it’s a funky red and black that greets you. The 3 spoke multifunction steering wheel looks familiar and is packed with lots of gizmos such as Bluetooth telephone, audio controls, cruise control, and navigation. The center console is neatly laid out with switches and a large multimedia touch screen. VW could have avoided some hard plastics here and there, as it contrasts the positive attitude of the car. You get power windows, keyless entry, engine start-stop switch, climatronic AC, heated and electrically operated ORVM’s, paddle shifters and a horde of other contemporary features with the 2016 Beetle.

The panoramic sunroof gives an airy feel to the cabin , perfect for a long drive.The front seats are comfortable and the overall visibility is good from the driver’s seat, however, the low headroom at the back makes the rear seats ideal only for kids and short people. The rear legroom and thigh supports are average. Thus, the rear seats are not the best place to be seated at during a long drive. The boot space is minimal and packing big suitcases can be the job of your accompanying car if you really wish to stack them on your journey to the airport.

The Drive

1.4 TSI 110 kW (150 PS) petrol engine is smooth, powerful , pocketfriendly and roars like a dream. The engine is not too “rev happy”, and once you get used to its powerbands, this baby TSI from the VW stable is sure to make you fall for it. The sophisticated and familiar DSG gearbox is a good compromise for those who want the convenience of a modern automatic gearbox without losing out on performance or the control of a manual. That said, the DSG’s responses could be frustratingly slow when you try to accelerate the car in India’s crowded start-stop traffic situations. The Beetle’s handling and dynamics is good though the car’s overall abilities and steering response does not beat a Mini Cooper. The  soft suspension shrugs off bumps and absorbs the uneven Indian roads with ease and the dampers get hardened as you climb speeds. Road noise is quite audible even at low speeds, but you’ll get accustomed to it. The brakes are effective, you can be sure of the biting abilities of this VW on your days of excitement and adrenaline pumped driving. The beetle also comes loaded with ABS, EBD, driver and passenger airbags with combined side and curtain airbags as standard safety equipment.

Words and Test Driven by Augustine Libin Peous Photographs by Nithin Nambiar