2012 Volkswagen Beetle is the sportiest, most fuel-efficient ever

April 18, 2011April 20, 2011 Omar Rana 2011 New York Auto Show, 2012, Beetle, Compact Cars, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen Beetle

The 2011 New York Auto Show is just two days and Volkswagen has decided to release some pictures and details of the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle before its public debut at the show. The exterior has been redesigned, the interior has been upgraded and the “New” has been dropped from the name and we like it.

When the first Beetle rolled off the production line, it was called simply the Volkswagen – ‘the people’s car’ – selling 21.5 million units in total. The second-generation model, known has the “New Beetle” brought back the spirit. Now, the third-generation Volkswagen Beetle is here and is known as the sportiest, most fuel-efficient Beetle ever.

“The designers wanted to develop the new car around the earliest Beetle profile rather than the 1998 New Beetle,” Volkswagen said in a statement. “They wanted a car that respects the past but looks toward the future. And that is what they created.”

“The Beetle is now characterized by a clean, self-confident and dominant sportiness. The car not only has a lower profile; it is also substantially wider, the front hood is longer, the front windshield is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. All of this creates a new dynamism,” explains Klaus Bischoff.

Read more after the jump and check out the high-res gallery after the jump.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle:

The interior has also been upgraded and is much more up-to-par with current generation Volkswagen models and much more sportier than the interior found in the outgoing Beetle.

The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will be offered with three powertrain choices including a 2.5L gasoline 5-cylinder, 2.0 TDI Clean Diesel and a 2.0L TSI turbocharged gasoline unit. While a 6-speed manual is standard on the 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TSI, Volkswagen’s DSG 6-speed dual-clutch automatic is available. A 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic is available on the 2.5L models.

The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2.4L 5-cylinder model produces 170-hp / 177 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 5-speed manual, fuel-economy comes in at 22/31 mpg (city/highway) and 22/29 mpg when mated to a 6-speed automatic. The Beetle 2.0 TSI is the sportiest Beetle and is powered by a 2.0 4-cylinder turbo making 200-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque.

The 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel, is know as the most fuel-efficient Beetle ever. Power comes from a 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel engine making 140-hp / 236 lb-ft of torque. Estimated fuel-economy comes in at 29/40 mpg or 33 mpg combined.

Sales of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will start in September / October 2011. Prices will be announced closer to launch date.