Update - New Volkswagen Beetle launching on December 19 2015

Launched in the international market in 2011, the New Volkswagen Beetle will finally make its way to Indian shores on December 19. The German car maker already commenced the pre-launch bookings of the car mid last month.

In terms of design, the new Beetle draws inspiration from the original Kafer. In fact, VW has done well to give it an aggressive design despite retaining the iconic retro silhouette. Up front, it has those round headlights with the Daytime Running Lamps. The bonnet is now flatter giving it a slightly aggressive stance. On the inside too, this new Beetle has some resemblance to the older one. The dashboard has body coloured bits making it look cool. That aside, the steering, centre console as well as the instrumentation are all new-age.

Internationally, the new Beetle is available in a range of petrol and diesel engine options. In India however, it will only get a 1.4-litre turbocharged mill that makes 150PS of power and comes mated to the much-loved 7-speed DSG. In terms of features, the Beetle is expected to get 6-airbags, ESP & ABS as standard equipment. The Beetle will also get the standard Bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity.

Volkswagen doesn’t expect the new Beetle to bring in phenomenal numbers, but believe that the iconic model should be part of their product portfolio. In the Indian market, the Beetle will go against the likes of the Mini Cooper 3-Door. Expect the new Volkswagen Beetle to be priced around the Rs 30 lakh mark.