Beetle for ‘halo’ not volume

WHILE Volkswagen is hoping that the latest Beetle incarnation will lure buyers into showrooms with its reinterpreted retro style, it is not expecting the Golf-based four-seater coupe to sell in volume numbers in Australia.

VW Australia managing director Anke Koeckler said the A5-series Beetle will probably achieve a similar set of sales as its predecessor, which found more than 1320 buyers in its first year on sale in 2000, but then averaged only about 730 units a year before being discontinued here in 2011.

To help keep buyers interested, Volkswagen is set to release a series of limited-edition models – already begun with the Fender, and expected to also include the GSR unveiled at the Chicago motor show earlier this month.

“We are not actually pushing for volume with the Beetle,” Ms Koekler told GoAuto at the launch of the latest model in Brisbane last week.

“The Beetle for us is the iconic model and one that helps us talk about the brand. It is part of our 60 years in Australia.

“It would probably do a similar number to what we sold before, maybe a little bit more, maybe a little bit less.

“In the beginning we see more people go for a new car like this because they fall in love with design, and after a couple of years we see a drop-off.”

Volkswagen pulled off a surprise at last week’s launch with the Fender, a 200-unit special run that name-checks the famous guitar-maker.

“We might work on some special editions, and we should be creative like we have been already with the Fender edition, as an opportunity to keep people’s interest in the model alive,” said Ms Koeckler.

The GSR, meanwhile, references a sporty 1973 version of the Beetle and uses a 155kW/280Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine from the Golf GTI – as opposed to the regular 118kW/240Nm 1.4 TSI Twincharger unit – to reach 100km/h in 7.3 seconds, on the way to a 229km/h top speed.

Just 3500 will be produced for global consumption later this year, and Australia is rumoured to be on the destination list.

The ‘R’ high-performance flagship is also a likely starter for Australia if the Wolfsburg company gives it the production green light.

“There is a proposal for the Beetle R, but I can’t tell you how far the project is,” said Ms Koeckler.

“But I can assure you if there is an opportunity to get close to the Beetle R we will look at it, because Australians like R models, but only if the price is right and the package is as well.

“For the time being, it is too early to confirm its existence. There isn’t even a car in existence for me to have a look at, but we will keep on asking for it.”

Eventually the Beetle Convertible should make its way to Australia, although Volkswagen says it has enough drop-tops to sell with the ageing Eos (launched in 2006) and Golf VI Cabriolet (released in late 2011).

When the Eos is discontinued in about two years, Volkswagen may import the Beetle Convertible.