The 2012 VW Beetle: Not Your Mom’s Beetle

Let’s face it: women like a certain type of car and men often appeal to another. That’s just the way it is. The Volkswagen Beetle tends to fall into the “woman’s car” category. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But Volkswagen hopes that the Beetle’s 2012 model will widen its consumer base as a whole, drawing in both men and women buyers.

Women accounted for over 65 percent of U.S. buyers for the outgoing “New Beetle”. However, Rainer Michel, Volkswagen of America's vice president of product marketing and strategy, predicts that only about half of those who purchase the 2012 Beetle will be women.

Part of the reason for this change of appeal is the Beetle’s new, more powerful engine choices. The base engine will remain a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, but this one comes new and improved. This new five-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, 20 horsepower more than its previous model.

And the 2012 Beetle comes in a 2.0T Turbo model which is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This bad boy produces 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque to satisfy the male need for speed.

In addition to improved engine options, the design of the 2012 Beetle is also meant to draw in more testosterone. The 2012 model has been streamlined, with a more flat top and more erect windshield. The top has also been sloped back to create more headroom for the backseat. A longer, lower, and wider structure makes the 2012 Beetle tougher and more masculine than ever.

The interior of the 2012 Bug has also been overhauled, opting for a more linear, retro look. And with the available Sunroof, Sound, and Navigation package, 2012 Beetle owners can blast their favorite songs on a Fender-tuned stereo with a subwoofer and get directions on their integrated navigation system. No need to stop at the gas station guys.

A final masculine touch: the flower vase found in previous Beetle models has been eliminated.

Whether the Beetle’s new design is truly more masculine or not, Volkswagen still hopes to garner more popularity with the 2012 model. And even if 65 percent of 2012 Beetle sales are still chalked up to women, who cares? A sale is a sale, right?