Fletcher Jones Volkswagen

Filed under: China, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Shanghai Motor Show 2012 Volkswagen Beetle spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery The latest from the Volkswagen bunker in Wolfsburg is that the second-generation New Beetle (henceforth to be known mercifully as 'Beetle') is officially dropping its towel to the floor at the Shanghai Motor Show in April. Whooda thunk it just five years ago? The Beetle is an American pop phenomenon, and it smarts a bit to have lost even that cachet to the all-powerful Chinese venue. Early word on the Beetle is that it is dynamically far sportier than the outgoing matzoh-ball built exclusively for people desperate for cutesy-ness and absolute symmetry. Oh, yes, and rear passengers without heads. While Europe is not intended to get the sensational 335-horsepower "W28" in-line five-cylinder turbo seen so far in both the Audi TT RS and RS3, it would seem there is a plot afoot to bring such a Beetle to North America. "The Beetle," a source in Wolfsburg tells Autoblog, "is so much sportier now. It's much more appealing to male buyers as well." Some off-the-record remarks tell of a Beetle thus equipped that is better on the track than another VW R coupe that North America sadly still doesn't get. The message? No more dung beetles. Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots [Images: KGP Photography] VW Beetle to debut in China; powerful Audi-engined model in the cards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Volkswagen, the German automaker, has revealed a new version of the Gulf made especially for basking in the sun. A nice new convertible. And, it will be available across Europe, starting in May. There have been whisperings that the Volkswagen Golf convertible will also hit North American shores. But there has not been an official date announced, yet.

Other than the new fabric roof and more seriously raked windshield, the new Volkswagen Golf convertible closely…

You might have previously read about Volkswagen's plan to champion all other automakers in the market. Well, the German company isn't about to back down from their goal. Quite the opposite actually. There going full-bore ahead.

At the 1^st Middle East Automotive Summit in Doha, Quatar, Ulrich Hackenberg, Brand Development Director said, "Our goal is to make Volkswagen the number-one automaker by 2018, economically and ecologically."¹ That's not including Audi…