2009 Volkswagen New Beetle Hatchback

What Changed for 2009:

• Redesigned 16-inch wheels
• Available 17-inch wheel package
• Two exterior colors dropped
• Two new exterior colors (Candy White and Heaven Blue)
• New free maintenance program

Overview
Volkswagen's New Beetle pays design homage to the original Volkswagen "Beetle" that first took to the road in 1938. That classic design sold over 21 million copies during its 60-plus-year model run, making it one of the best-selling cars in the world. In 1994, Volkswagen introduced a modern reincarnation of the "Beetle" at the North American International Auto Show in the form of the "Concept 1" prototype. Strong public reaction pushed the car into production and it arrived as a 1998 model. Much more advanced than the original, the New Beetle hatchback is based on the modern front-wheel-drive (FWD) Golf Mk4 platform with the latest electronics and safety equipment. The drop-top convertible version was introduced in 2003, again in response to public demand. In 2006, the New Beetle received a facelift with larger bumpers and a 5-cylinder powerplant (the turbo and diesel models were dropped). The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle is mostly unchanged, with the exception of a few minor cosmetic updates.

New for 2009 is Volkswagen’s carefree maintenance program. It is standard on all New Beetle models. The benefits of the program include no-charge scheduled maintenance during the first 3 years or 36,000 miles of ownership. All variants of the 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle feature a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Volkswagen also offers a 12-year/unlimited mileage corrosion warranty on all new vehicles.

Model Lineup
The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle is offered in either 2-door hatchback or 2-door convertible body styles. There are two trim levels: S and SE. All variants feature an identical 5-cylinder powerplant on a FWD powertrain. The standard “S” hatchback model has a 5-speed manual transmission while the “SE” model may be fitted with an optional 6-speed automatic “Tiptronic” transmission. All convertible models are fitted with a semi-automatic, power-operated, cloth convertible top and the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features on all 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle S models include V-Tex leatherette upholstery, automatic power windows, air conditioning, cruise control, power door locks, and a premium 6-speaker AM/FM single-CD stereo. New Beetle SE models add a leather steering wheel, leather shifter and a leather handbrake handle. In addition, heated front seats, heated washer nozzles and a premium amplified audio system are included in the SE package. Stand-alone options include satellite radio, cold weather package and a power sunroof on the hatchback model.

Powertrain
The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle hatchback and New Beetle convertible share an identical 2.5-liter, inline 5-cylinder engine rated at 150 hp and 170 lb.-ft. of torque (this is down slightly from its rating in the Volkswagen Rabbit). There are two transmissions offered with the engine: a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed "Tiptronic" automatic with a sport mode. According to Volkswagen, the 2-door hatchback will accelerate to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds with a manual transmission (8.6 seconds with the automatic) towards an electronically limited top speed of 125 mph. The slightly heavier convertible model takes 9.1 seconds to reach 60 mph, VW says. The FWD New Beetle hatchback earns EPA fuel-economy estimates of 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the automatic transmission.

The front suspension on the 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle is of an independent design, with MacPherson struts and coil springs. The rear suspension is a torsion beam axle with coil springs and gas-pressurized shock absorbers. Brakes are power-assisted discs on all four corners with standard anti-lock control (ABS). Standard wheels are 16-inch aluminum alloy with all-season tires.

Safety
All 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle models feature driver and passenger front air bag supplemental restraint systems and driver and front passenger side thorax air bag supplemental restraints. The front seats are equipped with pre-tensioning safety belts with load limiters. The rear outboard seating positions are equipped with LATCH (formerly ISOFIX) tether anchors for child seats. All 2009 New Beetle models are equipped with standard ESP (stability control), ASR (anti-slip control), ABS, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle with side air bags received 4 stars (out of a possible 5) in frontal crash testing for both driver and front passenger, as well as 5-star side-impact scores for both front- and rear-seat occupants. The New Beetle received 4 stars for rollover resistance. The convertible model received the same ratings for frontal testing, but it was not tested for side–impact protection. The 1998-2009 Volkswagen New Beetle has also been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The vehicle received a “Good” rating (the Institute’s highest) in frontal offset testing, but a “Poor” rating (the Institute’s lowest) in side-impact testing. (Note: the vehicle in the side-impact tests had the standard side air bags and was representative of the 2004-2009 models.)

Technology
The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle convertible features a 3-layer insulated cloth top with a heated glass rear window. Unlike the standard closed-roof hatchback version, the convertible also gains an additional window switch that allows the driver to lower or raise all of the windows simultaneously. To improve safety, the New Beetle convertible features standard “Active Rollover Support.” The technology includes dual spring-loaded aluminum beams hidden behind the rear-seat head restraints. In the event of an impact or a possible rollover, crash sensors activate a solenoid that releases both beams to their full extension in just 250 milliseconds. Once extended, a ratchet mechanism locks them in place to protect occupants if the vehicle should roll over. If they are not utilized in an accident, the beams may be manually pushed back into their housings to keep repair costs to a minimum, Volkswagen says.