What’s New for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible:
- Complete redesign of the Beetle Convertible platform
- Fresh styling
- Introduction of a turbodiesel engine
- Improved fuel efficiency
What’s New for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible:Volkswagen’s successful reinterpretation of the classic styling cues that informed the previous-generation New Beetle relies a lot on transmuting ‘cute’ into ‘brawny.’ Although the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is unquestionably a continuation of the looks that first debuted in 1938, they are now seen through the modern lens that the German automaker has chosen to focus on the compact car. In order to add visual heft to the Beetle Convertible the A-pillar has been pushed back (giving the car a longer hood), and the wheelbase has been stretched. This is in addition to dimensional increases alluded to in the opening paragraph. The bigger Beetle gracefully accepts the sharper angles of its sheet metal and appeals to a wider audience than the older model.
Inside, the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is identical to the Coupe the preceded it. This means a simple, classy passenger compartment that can be enhanced by an additional gauge cluster that sits above the nav system on some models.
New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible: What’s Under the Hood The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible offers a trio of engine options. The automaker’s ubiquitous 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit, which delivers 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, is standard in the base model and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The next step up is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is good for 200 horses and 207 lb-ft of torque, followed by a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that generates 140 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The latter represents the only diesel-powered convertible currently on the market, and it turns in fuel mileage figures of 28-mpg in city diving and 40-mpg on the highway. Both the diesel and the turbo four can be matched with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox.
New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible: Features and Technology The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is a modestly priced drop top, which means it’s not exactly loaded with high tech gear or comfort features. That being said, the Beetle Convertible can be had with a navigation system, V-Tex leatherette seating, Bluetooth connectivity, a push-button start, and a Fender-branded audio system. The vehicle’s power top can be lowered in roughly nine seconds and raised in just a tick over 11 seconds, and it can be operated at speeds of up to 30-mph. The abilty to rise the roof while on the move is extremely useful when attempting to duck raindrops on the way home.
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New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible: What Autobytel Thinks
The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is a handsome compact convertible that essentially has the entire market to itself. There aren’t many other affordable four-passenger convertibles out there unless you are interested in the larger muscle car-based models available from the domestic crowd, or the more sedately-styled Chrysler 200. The inclusion of a diesel drivetrain puts that model in a class by itself, and makes it the most fuel efficient, fun-in-the-sun car around. Volkswagen’s re-styling effort grabs just as many eyeballs as its first-take on the Beetle and will age better - an important consideration for a brand that took a significant number of years to take a scalpel to this particular car.
