2018 VW Beetle and Beetle Convertible US Spec – Video
The first Volkswagen Beetle arrived in the United States in 1949, and quickly became a cultural touchstone for an entire generation. Nearly seven decades later, the Beetle is one of the most iconic cars in the world. The third generation Beetle is modernized with 21st century conveniences, while holding on to its rich heritage.
New for 2018
The 2018 Beetle is offered with a standard automatic transmission with Tiptronic® in four trims—S, Coast, SE, and Dune. All 2018 Beetle models, both convertible and coupe, are powered by Volkswagen’s most advanced EA888 engine ever. The new 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged, direct-injection TSI® engine boosts horsepower in the 2018 Beetle to 174 hp, and the EPA-estimated fuel economy rating is 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined for S, SE and Coast models. Beetle Dune models have EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26/34/29 respectively.
The Beetle S is available with a new Style & Comfort Package that offers a 6.3-inch Composition Media touchscreen infotainment display; SiriusXM® satellite radio; Volkswagen Car-Net® App-Connect; Voice Control; KESSY® keyless access with push-button start; heated leatherette seats with lumbar adjustment; 17-inch “Philadelphia” aluminum-alloy wheels; body-color side sills and door handles; body-color door mirrors with integrated turn signals in mirrors; automatic headlights; auto-dimming rearview mirror; and rain-sensing wipers.
The new Beetle Coast model enters the lineup for model year 2018 as a special model and is based off the S trim. The model features a unique Deep Sea Teal exterior color option, a surfboard wood-look dashpad, cloth seating surfaces in “Pepita” houndstooth, Monster Mats®, scuff plates, a sunroof, and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert. An available Lighting Package includes Bi-Xenon® headlights; LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs); LED taillights; and LED license plate lights.
The Beetle SE gains several premium features as standard for model year 2018. These include Climatronic® dual-zone automatic climate control; exterior chrome trim on the lower window; panoramic sunroof; and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert. For added luxury, a new Premium Package is available for the SE, offering 18-inch “Disc” aluminum-alloy wheels; front and rear Park Distance Control (ParkPilot); a 6.3-inch Discover Media touchscreen infotainment and navigation display; Fender® Premium Audio System; Bi-Xenon headlights; LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs); LED taillights; LED license plate lights; and fog lights.
The Beetle Dune receives Bi-Xenon headlights, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs); LED license plate lights; Climatronic dual-zone automatic climate control; Fender® Premium Audio System; and KESSY keyless access with push-button start as standard for 2018.
For the 2018 model year, Volkswagen Beetle models in the United States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.
Pricing for the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle starts at $20,220. The destination charge for all Beetle models is an additional $850.
Exterior
Paying homage to its rich heritage, the 2018 Beetle coupe retains the distinctive silhouette of its predecessors, while offering a more dynamic and athletic stance. Its roof profile also runs distinctly lower than in previous generations for a bolder appearance. At 71.2 inches wide, 58.5 inches tall, and 168.4 inches long, wide tracks and a long wheelbase give the car sporty proportions, without compromising charm.
The Beetle S rides on standard 16-inch “Whirl” aluminum-alloy wheels, with optional 17-inch “Philadelphia” aluminum-alloy wheels available in the Style & Comfort Package. The Beetle Coast sits on 17-inch “Heritage” aluminum-alloy wheels, which are color-matched for models in Pure White, Tornado Red, and Deep Black (all other colors receive black wheels). The Beetle SE sits on 17-inch “Philadelphia” aluminum-alloy wheels with optional 18-inch “Disc” aluminum-alloy wheels available in the Premium Package. New exterior chrome trim on the lower window of the Beetle SE adds upscale flair to the model.
Inspired by the classic Baja Bug, the Beetle Dune exudes a more rambunctious spirit than the rest of the Beetle lineup thanks to distinctive front and rear fascias and pronounced black wheelarch extensions that flow into the bumpers. The Dune’s raised ride height of 0.4 inches and a 0.6-inch wider body gives it a more rugged stance. It also rides on larger wheels than its siblings—18-inch “Canyon” aluminum-alloy wheels are standard on the Dune.
The Dune’s bumper features a large central air intake that widens towards its bottom edge, and a black honeycomb screen has an aluminum-look surround that morphs into the underside of the bumper. On either side of the intake, two black honeycomb vents contain the foglights.
The side of the Dune is characterized by the contrast between the polished aluminum sills and black trim strips that are reminiscent of the original Beetle running boards. The side mirrors have contrasting black lower portions and Reflex Silver uppers, and “Dune” graphics are displayed on both doors. At the back, the Dune features a large rear spoiler, standard LED taillights, and a bumper design that integrates matte black and aluminum elements.
Interior
For a classic touch, 2018 Beetle models—Coast trims and above—integrate a kaeferfach glovebox or “Beetle bin” into the dashboard. The lid folds upward, while the standard glovebox opens downward. Standard features on the Beetle include a rearview camera; power windows with one-touch up/down; and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, shift knob, and brake lever. SE models gain additional premium features as standard with a new panoramic sunroof, body-colored dashpad and upper door sills, and interior chrome trim.
Sandstorm Yellow Dunes have an interior that features body color upper door trims and dashpads, whereas the Pure White and Deep Black Pearl vehicles have black door and dashpad trim.
Cloth seats are standard on S models, while SE models feature standard leatherette seats. The Coast features “Pepita” two-tone black/beige houndstooth cloth seats, while Dune features sport cloth seats with leatherette accents and contrasting “Curry” yellow stitching.
With 37.1 inches of rear-seat headroom, 41.3 inches of front legroom, and 55.3 inches of front shoulder room, space is plentiful in the 2018 Beetle. Overall interior volume is 85 cubic feet, with 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space. With the seats folded, rear utility capacity increases to 29.9 cubic feet. A split-folding rear seat and a wide opening trunk lid help ease loading and unloading.
MIB II Infotainment. As standard equipment across the Beetle line, the MIB II infotainment system not only creates the foundation for the next generation of Volkswagen’s Car-Net® connected vehicle services platform, but also offers one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available in the automotive industry today.
The Beetle S is equipped with the Composition Color unit, which features a 5-inch touchscreen display. The infotainment system also offers aux-in and USB (one port) multimedia interfaces, as well as a rearview camera and standard Bluetooth® technology for compatible devices. The 6.3-inch Composition Media display (details below) is available in the Style & Comfort Package.
All higher trims are equipped with 6.3-inch capacitive Composition Media touchscreen display as standard equipment. The Premium Package available on SE models adds the Discover Media system with navigation.
Composition Media units offer one USB port, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio for a three month trial period, HD Radio, and support for lossless audio file format (Free Lossless Audio Codec FLAC). The unit also has the ability to send and receive SMS text messages with Bluetooth with compatible phones and pair two phones simultaneously.
The Discover Media unit offers 2.5D navigation, featuring one-shot voice destination entry, destination entry with quick search and auto-complete, and predicts possible destinations based on often used routes.
Volkswagen Car-Net. Volkswagen is committed to driving the development of more connected and intelligent vehicles, and the Volkswagen Car-Net® connectivity system is a major element in achieving that goal. Features available through VW Car-Net are divided into three key areas: “App-Connect,” “Security & Service,” and “Guide & Inform.”
VW Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on Coast, SE and Dune models and available on the S model through the Style & Comfort Package. App-Connect offers users the ability to run select smartphone apps directly on the vehicle’s display through services like Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®.
Equipped on SE models, VW Car-Net Security & Service is a suite of elements that provides security features and also allows owners to access their VW remotely through vw.com/carnet as well as a smartphone app.
Customers purchasing new Volkswagen models equipped with VW Car-Net Security & Service will receive a no-charge, six-month trial subscription from Verizon Telematics. To extend the benefits of this system after the trial, customers can choose from a number of payment options: One year for $199, two years for $378, and three years for $540, or month-to-month for $17.99, plus applicable taxes and fees. App-Connect can be used with no additional charge and is not included as part of the subscription-based services.
Available VW Car-Net Security & Service features include Automatic Crash Notification, which can automatically notify an operator who can quickly contact first responders in the event of a collision; Manual Emergency Call, a feature that allows for quick access to customer specialists at the touch of a button; Roadside Assistance, for added peace-of-mind in the event of trouble on the road; and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which uses VW Car-Net Security & Service to assist law enforcement with locating your vehicle in the event that it is stolen.
In addition, VW Car-Net Security & Service offers remote vehicle access, remote door lock and unlock, remote honk and flash of lights, last parked location information, and remote status check (doors and windows). Consumers will also be able to send a location from their compatible connected smart device to the factory-installed compatible navigation system on select models. For consumers who prefer a more personal touch, agent destination assist is also available.
VW Car-Net Security & Service also includes Family Guardian, which offers features such as: speed alert, which notifies the owner of the vehicle when the pre-determined maximum speed limit is exceeded; and boundary alert, which lets you know when the vehicle has traveled outside of a pre-set virtual boundary.
Diagnostics and maintenance information is also available through VW Car-Net Security & Service. In addition to the vehicle’s warning and indicator lights, a Vehicle Health Report provides customers easy access to diagnostic information. When it’s time for scheduled service, VW Car-Net Security & Service not only notifies the customer, but provides a simple way to schedule a dealer visit. It can even identify the closest dealer in case owners need a recommendation.
The available VW Car-Net app for smartwatch (supports select Apple WatchTM and Android WearTM operating systems) allows VW customers to control a host of Security & Service features and functions available through the iPhoneTM and AndroidTM apps and Customer Web Portal, directly from their wrist. Smartwatch wearers can keep tabs on their vehicle, remotely locking and unlocking doors and viewing the status of doors, windows and sunroof (open or closed). These consumers can also find a parked vehicle more quickly, with a map of the current vehicle location, and get walking or driving directions to the vehicle. Drivers can check their fuel level and receive alerts with a compatible smartwatch.
VW Car-Net Guide & Inform is included on SE models with the available Premium Package and offers an enhanced navigation and infotainment experience for VW consumers. Volkswagen has incorporated technologies that enhance existing navigation offerings while adding an additional level of information that empowers consumers. The in-vehicle navigation system features fuel prices, sports scores, movie information and weather data as part of the three-month SiriusXM® Travel Link trial. VW customers will also enjoy real-time traffic information and a complimentary three-month SiriusXM® Traffic trial.
Powertrain
All 2018 Beetle models, both convertible and coupe, are powered by Volkswagen’s most advanced EA888 engine ever.
The changes in the new version of the EA888 advance the twin goals of power and efficiency. The peak 174 horsepower kicks in at 4,400 rpm, 400 revs sooner than in the 1.8-liter edition, and maintains its output until 6,000 rpm. Maximum torque of 184 lb-ft is achieved at 1,600 to 3,940 rpm. As in the previous 2.0-liter TSI engines, the increased displacement comes solely from a longer piston stroke (92.8 mm vs. 84.1 mm in the 1.8 TSI), while the compression ratio rises to 11.7:1 due to a modified piston crown and combustion chamber. New TSI injectors can push fuel into the cylinder at a higher maximum pressure (250 bar or 3,626 psi), with up to three injection sequences per stroke depending on conditions.
The new EA888 retains many key features of its predecessors, from chain-driven double overhead camshafts to the twin balance shafts that not only counteract second-order internal forces but provide oil scavenging and crankcase breathing pathways. A new engine management system with four core processors monitors the system and adjusts as needed. Reducing friction was another goal for this engine. For instance, the lower brake mean effective pressure at full load in this engine allowed the crankshaft main bearing diameter to be reduced from 52 to 48 mm, while the balance shaft chain is narrower.
The EPA-estimated fuel economy rating is 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined for S, SE and Coast models. Beetle Dune models have EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26/34/29 respectively.
Chassis
All Beetle models are fitted with a strut-type front suspension with a lower control arm and an anti-roll bar: on the Beetle, this is 22 mm in diameter. All Beetle models feature a multi-link independent rear suspension, with coil springs, telescopic dampers, and an 18-mm-diameter anti-roll bar.
Beetle models have standard anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake pressure distribution (EBD). The Beetle has 11.3-inch-diameter vented front discs and 10.-inch-diameter rear disc brakes.
Safety
To help protect occupants, the Beetle provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. The Beetle has been engineered to meet or exceed all current crash regulations and features four (front and head-thorax side) airbags as standard, along with a number of electronic and mechanical safety systems.
The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system is a standard safety feature. This system builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system helps address this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.
The Beetle also includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
Driver Assistance
The Beetle features a standard rearview camera and offers Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert and front and rear Park Distance Control (ParkPilot).
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert is standard on Coast and SE models. Blind Spot Monitor uses two radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle to scan the approaching traffic and help warn drivers of potential danger in adjacent lanes. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change while a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the system utilizes a flashing LED symbol in the outer area of the side mirrors. Even if the driver does not use a turn signal, the LED symbol in the mirror will illuminate if a vehicle is detected in the blind spot. The system is designed to help alert drivers in specific situations; stationary objects or oncoming vehicles do not trigger warnings, nor will vehicles more than one lane across away from the vehicle.
The Rear Traffic Alert system helps detect vehicles approaching from the side that may be difficult for the driver to see while reversing. It offers a sizable range of about 65 feet, and will present a visual and an acoustic warning, before applying the brakes if a potential impending collision is detected. If the driver does not react, the system can apply the brakes to help mitigate and, in the best case, prevent a collision. The system is activated by putting the car in reverse.
Equipped on SE models with the optional Premium Package and Dune models, ParkPilot uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to five feet in front or behind the vehicle. The system is activated when reverse gear is engaged or below a speed of 9 mph and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight spaces. The system has audible and visual warnings when the car starts to approach parked cars or static objects from the front or rear.
Warranty
For the 2018 model year, Volkswagen Beetle models in the United States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.
The six-year/72,000-mile People First Warranty includes powertrain coverage for engines, transmissions and optional 4Motion® all-wheel-drive systems. Additionally, all the elements of the People First Warranty can be transferred to subsequent owners for up to six years or 72,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date it was first sold new.
Most mainstream competitors to the Volkswagen brand in the United States such as Honda, Toyota and Ford offer only a three-year/36,000 mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty on their cars and SUVs. While Hyundai and Kia offer a five-year/60,000 mile basic warranty and a higher time and mileage limit on their powertrain limited warranties, if the vehicle is sold to a second owner, the powertrain limited warranty is not transferable beyond five years or 60,000 miles from the date it was first sold new.