The article was originally produced on September 14, 2011, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Volkswagen Beetle

The bubble is back again. Longer, wider and with a sportier look. Cars Collection was in Berlin and test drove the car that many hold dear.

The city, which has received a boost in the last five years with trendy clubbing and shopping life, feels just right for a presentation of this darling. The bubble began to be produced as early as 1938 and since its launch has been produced in an astonishing 21.5 million copies. In 1999, the New Beetle rolled out onto the roads. 

The New Beetle, as the previous new Bubblan was called, with its little flower vase in the dashboard, was more cute than sporty. They released an RSI version which, however, remained quite rare. The new Beetle, which is now just called Beetle, speaks a completely different language, with a full 15.2 cm more in length and 8.4 cm in width, it is significantly larger than the original and its predecessor. Volkswagen builds the Beetle on the same platform as, among other things, Jetta.

When we rolled along the parade streets in Berlin, we got many appreciative looks. It is noticeable that the Bubblan is a popular car that has a special place in people's hearts. What people couldn't see, but that we could experience, was that the 2011 Beetle is a lot sportier in its demeanor. With a turbocharged 2 liter engine under the hood, which delivers 200 horsepower, there is plenty of power and together with the lightning-fast DSG box (double clutch box), driving becomes pure pleasure.

As the car has grown so much on the outside, the interior space has also increased quite a bit. Four people now sit freely in the cabin and the luggage compartment has grown from 209 to a whopping 310 litres. You can also fold down the rear seat for additional space. 

The instrumentation is tastefully done and on top of the dashboard are three round gauges, oil, timer and turbo pressure gauge. Everything so that the driver has full control when it goes away. The panel on the instrument console is available in various painted colors, the one we drove had a carbon fiber-like finish. The seats are comfortable, cupped and with good side support when it rolls over.

Among the engine options, there is a plethora of choices, ranging from frugal diesel engines with 105 horsepower and a consumption of just over 0.43 liters per mile. The top model we chose has a 2.0 Tsi engine with a consumption of 0.74 liters per mile in mixed driving. The frugal diesel classifies in Swedish environmental car requirements thanks to a Co2 emission of only 112 grams/km.

In terms of appearance, it differed from our strong petrol model by a spoiler under the rear window, but it also has a so-called electronic differential XDS that brakes the inner wheel in curves for better road holding, something that we noticed clearly during active driving. The car behaved surprisingly well in provocative cornering. 

We wound our way out of Berlin's well-trafficked inner-city streets and onto the Autobahn. Here, the Beetle clearly showed what Volkswagen's engineers had done with the chassis. Without problems and without the slightest worry, we are up to speed over the two hundred mark. The noise level in the cabin is not excessive despite the 18-inch wheels that are fitted. But if you want to have noise in the passenger compartment beyond the normal, Volkswagen has been kind enough to make the sound experience something horsey with the help of the guitar and amplifier brand Fender. 

The original 1938 model was developed by Ferdinand Porsche and was, as I said, an incredible success. Can the 2012 model measure up to its predecessor? The fact that the car is so slowly starting to resemble a 911 in its forms should receive a positive response from many, but not all - Has it become too sporty and lost that popular appeal the old bubble had? Yes, perhaps, but with the New Beetle, Volkswagen tried exactly that recipe, which was not 100 percent successful. Perhaps the sporty emphasis is exactly the right line to maintain Bubblan's place in the hearts of the people's home. In any case, we like the new New Beetle and let it regain its place in our hearts.

+ A car you know and now with new energy.

- A sequel is never as good as the original.