Automobz.com Unofficial Blog

A people's car would be one that can occupy two adults and two children comfortably, along with place for a luggage in a boot and the most important feature of the car is that it must be affordable. Apart from easy to buy, affordable also implies that it must be easy to run and maintenance costs have to be at the minimum. Tata Nano? Maybe, but we are going to welcome the first people's car, the Volkswagen Beetle. The new Beetle is far from being a people's car, same as the new Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper. These cars were introduced as a cheap car to run, with cost as the main agenda. They were introduced for the middle class man just when transportation became an important criteria in society
The history of the Beetle is as interesting as its design. The car that was known as the Type 1 faced a lot of mass production hassles in war prone Germany, as it was intended to be priced just as much as a small motorbike at that time. Hitler wanted a car to available at that price and after World War 2 it was set into production as the Beetle. The designer of the car, a certain Ferdinand Porsche hated the official name – Kdf Wagen, it was the public that floated around the name of Beetle for obvious reasons pertaining to its shape and look. Porsche called them the Type 60 and the first production ready Beetle was showcased at the 1939 Berlin Motor Show. The 935cc, flat four rear engine sputtered out 23.5Hp which was deployed by a four speed manual gearbox. Then it was used for the impending was and many thought that it would be lost in obscurity. But post was, Industrial Revolution was heralded by the Beetle.
The new Beetle will be launched here in the middle of next year. It will be here via the CBU route from its manufacturing facility in Mexico. The Bug became an iconic people's car and now the Beetle will probably receive the luxury tag as it will be priced with the extra 113% surcharge as an imported car. The 1.9 TDi Diesel would be the one making its entry here.
The Beetle now will have all the gadgets that would somewhat fit its extravagant bill, which will include ABS, traction control, anti-skid system and front and side airbags, rain sensors and cruise control, along with acoustic rear parking sensors. The scope of such cars is not much in India, and also the launch of the Fiat 500 Cinquecento has not seen much sales. The price factor has played a very huge roll in such offerings, the same reason why BMW has abstained from bringing out the Mini. There are many Beetles still around here reminiscing those hay days with retired cavaliers strolling around the cities. One thing that deserves admiration would be the way they have maintained the opulence of the Type I, without losing the identity of the bug. The Mini, the 500 and the Beetle had been introduced keeping the roots firmly in mind and the looks dated with that slight touch of modernity to garnish the success. The Indian market as such is not yet ready for the new bug to infect the roads, but of the small target that Volkswagen has set, without the shadow of a doubt, the little number too will adorn the streets.