Classic trimmed VW Beetle gets a sportier frontal design for 2017. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
My most recent Beetle tester was a smart little Convertible in Classic trim, painted a lovely Dark Bronze Metallic that was more of a chocolate brown, with an ideally matched almond Beige soft-top. The colour reminded me of my dad’s personally repainted ’66 Beetle that started metallic brown yet ended up a strange yellow-orange we kids endearingly called puke, but that’s a story for another time.
Classic
New Dark Bronze paint makes for a real ’70s era look. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
The revised 2018 Beetle will make due with the same well-proven six-speed automatic
LED-enhanced HID headlamps and fog lights are optional with the Classic. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Beetles have always been nice riding cars, and this Convertible Classic is no different. It cruises nicely on the highway with the top up or down, the latter causing expected wind buffeting yet nothing extreme (unless in back), although I must admit that most of the time I drove with the top up. Yes, VW gave me this convertible as September ended and October began, which isn’t exactly drop-top weather despite our willingness to power it down for our photo session. We drove around with the heater cranked for a little fun, but I was quickly put in place by my
Love the almond coloured Beige soft top. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Of note, Comfortline trim was dropped earlier this year for a new Trendline base model that will continue into 2018, the 2017 model starting at $25,390 plus freight and fees. Classic, like next year’s Coast, is based on the Trendline, albeit gets more of a vintage look that I happen to like, this including the aforementioned steel wheel-like 17-inch Heritage alloys with chrome plated hubcaps, ’50s-era “Volkswagen” script badging at the back, plus a body-colour painted instrument panel, steering wheel spokes and door uppers along with two-tone black and camel beige upholstery with
Body-colour interior trim joins additional Classic touches inside. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
Additional Classic upgrades include an alarm system, auto on/off headlamps, metal doorsill plates, chrome interior trim, ambient lighting, a monochromatic multifunction trip computer, a leather-wrapped and contrast-stitched flat-bottom multifunction sport steering wheel, a contrast-stitched leather shifter boot and handbrake lever, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, three-way heatable front seats, plus VW’s 6.33-inch Composition Media proximity-sensing high-resolution colour touchscreen infotainment display with a rearview camera,
The seats look right out of the ’50s, their inserts featuring beige and cream checkers. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
A new Style package added luxury items like HID headlights with LED accents, fog lights, LED taillights, proximity keyless access with pushbutton ignition, dual-zone auto climate control, and upgraded Fender audio, which provided ample sound even with the top down.
That
Rear seat roominess is limited, as is trunk space, which is par for the course with compact convertibles. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press) |
I should also mention that all 2017 Beetles receive the sportier R-Line front-end treatment as well as a standard rear spoiler, which honestly don’t work quite as well with the Classic look as the older rounded styling did. Still, it’s a minor point considering this car is enjoying its last kick of the can, so to speak. Fortunately it appears an electrified retrospective Microbus will replace it, but that won’t be here until 2022 according to the interweb rumour mill. Will the slightly revised new Beetle soldier on until then? That’s hard to say, but as long as it remains popular enough there’s no reason for VW to kill it off. I, for one, will enjoy each new modification and special edition as they arrive.
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