Volkswagen · 2011–2019

Volkswagen Beetle

The Volkswagen Beetle (also sold as the Volkswagen Käfer, Volkswagen Coccinelle, Volkswagen Maggiolino, and Volkswagen Fusca in some countries) is a compact car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 2011 until 2019. It was introduced for the 2012 model year as the successor to the Volkswagen New Beetle. It features a lower profile while retaining an overall shape homaging the original Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle. One of Volkswagen's goals with the model was to give it a more aggressive appearance while giving it some stylistic aspects reminiscent of the Type 1. This was an attempt to distance the new model from the New Beetle, produced from 1997 to 2011, which never approached the success of the original Beetle. The second generation "new" Beetle shares the "A5" (PQ35) platform with the Jetta (A6) and was built alongside the Jetta, Golf Variant at Volkswagen's plant in Puebla, Mexico. It is longer than the previous New Beetle at 4,278 mm (168.4 in) and also has a lower profile, 12 mm (0.5 in) lower than its predecessor, and 88 mm (3.5 in) wider. The trunk is now 310 L (11 cu ft), up from 209 L (7.4 cu ft). A convertible version followed the hatchback for the 2013 model year, first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2012 when it also went on sale. Head of Technical Development for VW, Frank Welsch, indicated at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show that this would be the Beetle's final generation. On 13 September 2018, Volkswagen announced that the Beetle production would end in July 2019. The final third generation Beetle (a denim blue coupe) finished production on 9 July 2019, and was presented on the assembly line the next day. The model was officially retired at a ceremony in Puebla City later that day.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Volkswagen New Beetle

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Launch

On 22 November 2010, on the final episode of the Oprah's Favorite Things special, Oprah Winfrey and Volkswagen announced every audience member that day would receive one of the Beetles upon its release in 2011. VW staff gave the audience their special keys to the car. This was followed by a teaser commercial during Super Bowl XLV in February 2011. To celebrate the global reveal, VW partnered with MTV, to make a debut on three continents on 18 April. The reveal began in Shanghai, China with a MTV Sound System celebration hosted by MTV VJs, followed by MTV World Stage events in Berlin and New York City. On 18 April 2011, the 2012 model was unveiled as the Volkswagen Beetle, dropping the word "New" from its name. It debuted at the 14th Auto Shanghai and the New York International Auto Show. During the marketing campaign at Mexico, it was advertised as "The new Vocho" in the "Das Auto" marketing campaign.

Engines

The new model retains the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout of the New Beetle, while improving interior packaging with more room in the rear. Four-cylinder engine options for the European market include 1.2-litre (77 kW (105 PS; 103 hp)), 1.4-litre (118 kW (160 PS; 158 hp)) and 2.0-litre (147 kW (200 PS; 197 hp)) TSI petrol engines, and 1.6-litre (78 kW (106 PS; 105 hp)) and 2.0-litre (103 kW (140 PS; 138 hp)) TDI diesel engines. In addition to the 2.0-litre TSI and TDI engines, base North American Beetles were originally fitted with a (125 kW (170 PS; 168 hp)) straight-five engine (engine code CBTA/CBUA) earlier used on the Golf and Jetta. From 2015 onward, the 2.5L straight-five was phased out in favor of a 1.8L four-cylinder TSI of comparable horsepower ratings but improved torque ratings over the straight-five. All engines for this model are offered with an option of a six-speed manual transmission or the option of a dual-clutch DSG automatic. In the United States, transmissions on petrol models come with either a five-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic on 2.5/1.8T models, while on the diesel models there is the option of a DSG six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Special editions

=== Black Turbo launch edition === The first special edition of the 2012 Beetle is the Black Turbo launch edition. It was limited to 600 cars on the U.S. market and was the first car available through Volkswagen’s new Vehicle Pre-Order program. Turbo Black. A Beetle Turbo Black made an appearance at the 30th annual Wörthersee Treffen in June 2011 in Reifnitz, Austria. It was located on the floating barge showcase at the entrance to the show. Other cars on the barge included a Reifnitz Edition GTI and the Touareg Racer. e-Bugster. The e-Bugster was a concept vehicle shown at the North American International Auto Show in January 2012; it is a battery-electric vehicle using a 85 kW (114 hp; 116 PS) motor drawing from a 28.3 kW-hr lithium ion traction battery, for a range of 110 miles (180 km). It previewed the styling for an anticipated convertible edition of the A5; compared to the conventional Beetle, the e-Bugster was 30 mm (1.2 in) wider and the roof was 90 mm (3.5 in) shorter. Unlike other new Beetles, the e-Bugster is a two-seater, true to its Speedster styling, instead of 2+2. Volkswagen allowed journalist Damon Lavrinc to drive the prototype and explained the powertrain components were taken from the contemporary e-Golf that shared the VW PQ35 platform, produced for the California market. Top speed was limited to 30 mph (48 km/h) for the test drive. Fender Edition. In 2012, Volkswagen partnered with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to release a limited edition Beetle for the 2013 model year. The Beetle Fender Edition uses the Beetle Turbo's front fascia and the 2.5L model's 18" disc wheels. Unique exterior features consist of Fender badges and chrome side mirror covers. The interior features a sunburst dashboard panel that pays homage to the Fender Stratocast

Sales

The previous generation New Beetle Convertible was sold alongside the Beetle Coupe (A5) in 2012. An all-new A5 based Beetle Convertible replaced the New Beetle Convertible for the 2013 model year.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

Manufacturer

Volkswagen de México

name

Volkswagen Beetle (A5)

Production

July 2011 – July 2019

Class

Small family car (C)

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

Predecessor

Volkswagen New Beetle

Successor

Volkswagen Golf (for Compact models), Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet (for Cabriolet models)

Assembly

Mexico: Puebla

Platform

Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform

Engine

petrol:, 1.2 L TSI I4, 1.4 L 16-valve TSI I4, 1.8 L 16-valve TSI I4, 2.0 L 16-valve TSI I4, 2.5 L 20-valve I5, Diesel:, 1.6 L TDI I4, 2.0 L TDI I4

Transmission

5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, 6-speed DSG, 7-speed DSG

Wheelbase

2537 mm

Length

4278 mm

Width

1808 mm

Height

1486 mm

Related

Volkswagen Golf Mk6

Body style

3-door hatchback, 2-door cabriolet

Designer

Walter de Silva, Marc Lichte

aka

Volkswagen Coccinelle (France), Volkswagen Maggiolino (Italy), Volkswagen Fusca (Brazil), Volkswagen The Beetle (Argentina, Japan)

Model years

2012–2019

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1968742CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle_(A5)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1352402644 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silver_VW_Beetle_R_fr_IAA_2011.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Matti Blume (MB-one) · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — http://www.vw.com.mx/es/models/beetle.htmlLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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