What Is It?
2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet
What's Special About It?
Finally, five years after the New Beetle debuted, VW responds to the deafening cries of "Give us a ragtop version!" Or maybe it was responding to slowing sales numbers. Whatever the case, an affordable new convertible is always good news.
Essentially replacing the outgoing Cabrio, the New Beetle (was it really necessary to call it "New"?) cabriolet is a top-notch effort. As it did with the hardtop, VW did a fantastic job capturing the essence of the original Beetle convertible with the new one. A tasteful chrome strip runs along the beltline, rising elegantly as it surrounds the top. When raised, the rounded soft top preserves the arched roofline of the coupe.
Boasting 35-percent greater torsional stiffness than the outgoing Cabrio, the New Beetle convertible has a glass rear window and rollover protection in the form of reinforced pop-up rear headrests. The drop top will also have turn signals in the side mirror housings (a la Mercedes) and a new center console compartment/armrest that can house an optional six-disc CD changer. These last couple of features will also be added to the coupe for 2003.
But as it did with the New Beetle coupe, VW is initially teasing us by offering just the 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter, eight-valve engine in either GL or fancier GLS trim. Hello, guys, even a Toyota Echo benefits from four-valve-per-cylinder technology. Later in the model year, the feisty 150-horse 1.8T will be available as either a GLS or GLX. As of this writing, there are no plans for an "S" variant of the rag top Bug.
Why Should You Care?
The Johnny-come-lately New Beetle convertible is very well executed. Still, we'd wait a little longer for the turbo version. — John DiPietro
2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Cabriolet
What's Special About It?
Finally, five years after the New Beetle debuted, VW responds to the deafening cries of "Give us a ragtop version!" Or maybe it was responding to slowing sales numbers. Whatever the case, an affordable new convertible is always good news.
Essentially replacing the outgoing Cabrio, the New Beetle (was it really necessary to call it "New"?) cabriolet is a top-notch effort. As it did with the hardtop, VW did a fantastic job capturing the essence of the original Beetle convertible with the new one. A tasteful chrome strip runs along the beltline, rising elegantly as it surrounds the top. When raised, the rounded soft top preserves the arched roofline of the coupe.
Boasting 35-percent greater torsional stiffness than the outgoing Cabrio, the New Beetle convertible has a glass rear window and rollover protection in the form of reinforced pop-up rear headrests. The drop top will also have turn signals in the side mirror housings (a la Mercedes) and a new center console compartment/armrest that can house an optional six-disc CD changer. These last couple of features will also be added to the coupe for 2003.
But as it did with the New Beetle coupe, VW is initially teasing us by offering just the 115-horsepower, 2.0-liter, eight-valve engine in either GL or fancier GLS trim. Hello, guys, even a Toyota Echo benefits from four-valve-per-cylinder technology. Later in the model year, the feisty 150-horse 1.8T will be available as either a GLS or GLX. As of this writing, there are no plans for an "S" variant of the rag top Bug.
Why Should You Care?
The Johnny-come-lately New Beetle convertible is very well executed. Still, we'd wait a little longer for the turbo version. — John DiPietro
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