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The photo above shows what a 320hp new Volkswagen New Beetle 2.0TFSi looks like. The car is tuned by German tuners B&B (don't really know who they are as too many tuners seem to be popping out of the German woodwork) and it comes complete with cheesy go-faster 'Turbo' stickers emblazoned on its side, a lowered stance and larger matte black rims. After all of that it still doesn't look fast. I somehow think Volkswagen has actually missed its target of making the latest version of the New Beetle more masculine. Take a look at Volkswagen's Beetle R Concept with its Audi R8 style front bumper and it still looks a little Jennifer Aniston in a call girls outfit. If it were a man it would be Boy George instead of George of the Jungle. It needs to be Kate Beckinsale instead. I will get to Miss Beckinsale in a moment. I think the original Volkswagen Beetle in 'race clothing' is more masculine that this and the earlier version. It could be because of the really bulbous arches. Or the fact that it actually looked good with mag wheels. Even the previous Beetle RSi looked slightly awkward with that paste on rear wing. It looks like it was more suitable for Miss Aniston instead of a manly man like Phua Chu Kang. Maybe they need to find a little more aggression in the design. I mean there are really cool looking women out there like Kate Beckinsale or Angelina Jolie as inspiration for Beetle designers. Maybe they should be looking at a feminine Beetle with a hint of black leather. Kate Beckinsale in leather in those Underworld movies is where they should start. It isn't about making the Beetle look masculine, but something that incorporates sex and violence. What the current Beetle is to me is a car devoid of any sexiness and violence. There's no real cuteness too. It still looks forced retro unlike the BMW Mini and the new Fiat 500. So how should Volkswagen design the new Beetle then? If you think about it the Nissan Fairlady 350/370Z does this quite well. Curves (sexy), in all the right places, a feminine name and oversteer when you want it (violence) when you want it.

[extract] The original VW Beetle is one of my favourite cars. It might not have huge horsepower figures or a sleek, sloping roofline but overall in my eyes, the car is nice to look at; something that is cool to drive. When Volkswagen released the New Beetle, I had mixed feelings about it. But eventually I had to accept it as time always bring about changes. Although Volkswagen released a powerful version of the New Beetle equipped with the 3.2 litre VR6 engine, the local dealers did not bring it in. One of the reasons I heard on why it didn

[extract] If you

Volkswagen has previewed the Volkswagen Beetle R concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. What this concept car shows is basically the Full Monty of Volkswagen Beetles if they put it into production. It shows off a redesigned and more aggressive bodykit, a bonnet with vents on it, a rear diffuser with quad-tailpipes and 20 inch wheel combo for the exterior. It also shows off a more luxuriously trimmed interior featuring nappa leather wrapped sports seats, a revised aluminium meter cluster, aluminium pedals and other unique to the Beetle R trim. As for what sits in the engine bay, we do not know as yet as Volkswagen has only hinted that it may have the same power output as the 266hp Volkswagen Golf R. So the question that begs asking is this: Do all the mods make the Volkswagen Beetle R a more macho car? One that motorheads, petrolheads and gearheads would drool over, go weak in the knees or feel that driving one is better than sex or one still destined like its less brutal looking siblings and be the favourite of hairdressers or crossdressers alike? I think the Volkswagen Beetle R is still for the latter group of people. You know why? If you really took a long look at the new, slightly lower, wider Beetle you could see that it looks like a slightly taller Porsche 911 (930 series) from the 1970s -1980s. What the bodykit needs to ape a little more is the whale tail of the 930 911 Turbo. The front already has modern day Porsche aping looks, why not add a retro but totally outrageous touch like that Porsche whale tail? And while they're at it, add wider rear arches so that the car goes truly aggressive. I can vouch that there will be people who would love a Beetle with some early Porsche DNA built into them. Retro may work well with the Beetle R. What the Volkswagen Beetle R concept to me is something still incomplete. It looks quite aggressive, but not gut wrenching aggressive enough. Photo source: Autocar

The totally new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle has barely hit most markets around the world but as usual, the tuning houses have gotten their hands on it. ABT, known for tuning VW Group cars have their pimped out Beetle ready and wants us to call it the 'Speedie'. A bodykit, alloy wheels and 'go-faster' stripes and it deserves to be called 'Speedie'? I doubt it if you went out and bought the base 105bhp 1.2-litre TSI version. Even with ABT's ECU tweaks for that engine. But do continue reading anyway. Anyway, the ABT Volkswagen Beetle Speedie (which I think is what it's called in full) is basically ABT's first step in tuning the all new, new Beetle (I just had to say it in this way as this IS the revamp of the first new Beetle). ABT have not finalized details of the engine mods and have just stated that the Speedie will have tweaks for its looks. It has a complete bodykit