New engines for Volkswagen’s new Beetle

Volkswagen is doubling the engine choices for its recently-launched new Beetle.

It will now be offered with 2-litre petrol and diesel units alongside the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI petrol engines it launched with.

The 2-litre TSI petrol will produce a rather swifter Bug – with 197bhp, it will sprint to 62mph in 7.5 seconds while returning plus-38mpg fuel consumption.

To cope with this the 2.0 TSI gains some specific modifications compared to other Beetles – four-link rear suspension, twin chromed exhaust pipes, red brake calipers and a body-coloured rear diffuser.

This engine will only be offered in the Sport or a new Turbo special edition trim level.

The 2-litre diesel will be rather more frugal, with a quoted 57.6mpg figure along with CO2 emissions of 129g/km. It offers 138bhp, good for a 9.5-second 0-62mph time.

The 2.0 TDI will be offered in Design and Sport trim levels.

Design trim gets 17-inch alloy wheels in a choice of two styles, Bluetooth telephone preparation, an RCD 510 DAB CD/radio with MDI multi-device interface (for connecting an iPod or similar), front fog lights, rear Isofix preparation, an alarm, manual air conditioning, multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-coloured door and dashboard panels.

The Sport specification adds 18-inch alloys in a choice of styles, tinted glass, cruise control, sports seats, parking sensors, gloss black door mirrors (in silver or black on the Turbo special editions), gloss black dashboard and door panel and 2Zone electronic climate control.

The Turbo comes in Black or Silver specification, with ‘Turbo’ decals in either silver or black along the side, door mirrors in silver or black, the door rubbing strip in body colour (rather than black, as it is on standard Sport models), and 19-inch ‘Tornado’ alloys.

Words by: Andrew Charman