New Beetle shows its six appeal

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Volkswagen has been showing off its high-performance New Beetle, dubbed the Limited RSi.

The four-wheel-drive model was unveiled at the Paris motor show and is intended for a special left-hand-drive market only.

It is powered by a 3.2-litre V6 engine developing 165 kW and a top speed of 223 km/h. The most extreme New Beetle interpretation accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.

Power is transferred via a six-speed transmission and 4MOTION drive, which feeds the drive torque via an electronically controlled Haldex clutch to all four wheels.

The New Beetle RSi is also clearly different to the other series models on the outside. The body, widened by 80mm, has a deep front and the huge rear spoiler and gives the impression the RSi is coming straight from the racing track. That's no coincidence: the RSi has much in common with the racing car that is used in the New Beetle Cup in Germany.

Only 250 specimens of the exclusive sport Beetle are to be built. The first will go on sale later this year.

New Zealanders will get a watered down taste of the RSi when the 110kW 1.8-litre turbo New Beetle arrives in January.

It has a top speed of 203 km/h. Its outer feature is a rear spoiler, which retracts depending on the speed. The 1.8T is from now also available with automatic transmission.

Volkswagen has a few changes to the New Beetle for the 2001 model year.

The outside mirrors are redesigned in form and suspension, and have the same format on the left and the right side. For the first time, the popular cult model can also be delivered with a front window rain sensor, which is used in conjunction with an automatic dimming interior mirror.

New headlights provide even better light efficiency. They also have automatic headlamp levelling and a washing system.

Usability of the luggage compartment of the New Beetle is enhanced by the now completely divided rear seat and backrest. When the rear seat is folded down, the luggage compartment of the New Beetle has a capacity of 527 litres. Also part of the upgrade is the electronic stability program (ESP), which stabilises the car in critical situations.

The New Beetle profits from several new engine options, most not available in New Zealand. The basic one is the new 1.6 litre petrol engine with 75 kW. The next performance level is the reliable 2.0-litre powerplant with 85 kW, which can be fitted with automatic transmission.