The New Beetle Cabrio

New Beetle Fans Beetlebuzz.com

For your enjoyment, New Beetle Cabrio news gossip and a selection of recent spy pictures that are doing the rounds in various magazines. New Beetle Convertible Coming In Just one Month! Drop-Top Debut Set For Miami Auto Show

Volkswagen will finally take the wraps off its long-awaited convertible New Beetle at this autumn's South Florida International Auto Show in Miami. The show runs Nov. 8 to 17.

The official New Beetle cabrio

In just three months the world will see what Volkswagen and long-time partner Karmann have come up with for the open-air Bug, which is sure to refuel excitement for the model and the marque. The new car is rumoured to carry a similarly simple name as its fixed-roof sibling ƒ joining the New Beetle will be the New Beetle Cabrio.

The New Beetle Cabrio will be available in five new colours: Sundown Orange, Mellow Yellow, Harvest Moon Beige, Galactic Blue and Aquarius Blue. A black manually folding roof will be standard with a powered top optional. Instead of a fixed roll bar, roll-over protection will be automatically deployed when the car senses such an accident. (See New Beetle Convertible Features for further details and illustrations.)

Cabrio hood with glass window

At least initially, the New Beetle Cabrio will be powered by Volkswagen's 2.0-litre/115-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The aging two-valves-per-cylinder technology already has difficulty moving the regular New Beetle ƒ the convertible is expected to be heavier, and thus slower, with its reinforced structure, built-in roll-over protection and intricate roof mechanism. So if you want some go with your show, then wait a bit longer for the 1.8-litre/150-horsepower turbo version, coming by mid-2003.

Perhaps the only technical innovation of the cabrio will be an available six-speed automatic transmission. A five-speed manual will be standard. Price of admission for fun-in-the-sun Buggin': about $4,500 more than a regular Bug.

Engines: · 2.0L 115 HP · 1.8L 150 HP Trim Levels: · GL · GLS · GLX

Standard Colours: · Black · Reflex Silver · Galactic Blue · Harvest Moon (beige) · Sundown (burnt orange) · Aquarius (sky/baby blue) · Mellow Yellow (pastel yellow)

Cheers, Pete Frost