Volkswagen released the 2012 Beetle at the New York Auto Show last year. I was at the release and was interviewed by a local non-automotive publication about the new car. The reporter was particularly interested in the "tough" new look. She asked if I thought the car would sell better to men now that it doesn't look as girly and if the convertible would look as masculine as the coupe.
I managed to avoid laughing at this new car being considered masculine long enough to give a satisfactory answer, but I couldn't give her any specifics on the convertible other than no, it probably wouldn't sway male audiences. (Beetle R Concept? Maybe.) And now that we've got some spy photos of the upcoming 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, I think my answer was spot on.
The convertible looks to maintain the squared-off roof line of the coupe which does wonders in reducing bubbliness. The remaining question is what the folded top will look like. Look closely and you can see this top has five (maybe six, but I think five) small sections as opposed to the old New Beetle's larger sections. This may mean a folded top that has a much smaller profile hanging off the back of the car, or one that hides completely.
ddark13 says:
12:13 PM, 11/28/11
itll take awhile for the battle to shed its sorority girl image. they shouldnt have made it so girly last generation (i.e. flower vase) if they were going to change courses while keeping the styling virtually identical to most ppl
sharpend says:
12:21 PM, 11/28/11
@ddark13
Actually, this version of the Beetle is way more butch - especially in person. There were tons of guys looking at the turbo version at the LA car show for example. And the R version even more so.
The gals were checking out the Jetta.
smrtypants44 says:
12:51 PM, 11/28/11
Weird that it has the previous gen tail lights.
sniperruff says:
12:56 PM, 11/28/11
Still don't get the "chick/guy car" thing. I'd gladly drive a pink VW Beetle Turbo than a "butch" Hyundai Volester.
rayzor says:
02:01 PM, 11/28/11
simply cant see myself owning one...My father had one back in the late 60s early seventies, it was hip then, not so much now, IMHO
alphabetfuel says:
04:52 PM, 11/28/11
I can't speak for anyone else, but for me it isnt the Beetle that is synonyms with femininity but rather VW as a brand. The Scirocco was and still is the only XY chromosomes in their family.
As for the new convertible (which they'll inevitably emasculate by dubing it a more feminine sounding cabriolet) definitely isn't going to help shed the PT cruiser vibe the new Beetle puts off. Wheen I see those and these photo I instantly think rolling bathtub.
j84ustin says:
04:58 PM, 11/28/11
sniperruff, agreed. This whole "masculine vs feminine" argument is dumb.
scottyscooter says:
04:25 AM, 11/29/11
Hmm, the new Beetle looks kind of odd with a convertible top. The proportions of the car seem off, and it almost looks as if the car is “stretched”. I don’t get that impression from looking at the hardtop version of the car.
Debunker says:
05:37 AM, 11/29/11
If it were rounded out a bit further, had the winshield lowered a few inches, rebadged as a Porsche and called a 356D, you'd have a real winner, no?
mrmrf says:
12:38 PM, 11/29/11
I think I remember these photos... from 2003.
vikasdesai says:
09:33 AM, 12/ 2/11
don't make the beetle too manly not everycar has to be a dodge challenger, women drive too, a real man shouldnt be driving a beetle anyway, get a golf