When the classic Volkswagen Beetle debuted in the late 1930s during the dark days of the Third Reich, it was a triumph of engineering simplicity and of function over form. The original Beetle isn’t pretty or fast, but it got the job done – cheaply, at that.
Some 60 years later, Volkswagen debuted the New Beetle, which in many ways was to be the polar opposite of its venerable ancestor. It was a triumph of form over function, and unlike its predecessor, did not have bargain-basement pricing.
The New Beetle was produced for 14 years (an incredibly long time in modern terms), and only replaced in 2011. That same year, Volkswagen introduced a car simply named The Beetle (no, it’s not called the New New Beetle). While it still has a retro vibe about it, it has nonetheless shed the effeminate cutesiness from before, which isn’t a bad thing, especially for the owner of this “bug”, Mr R (though he affectionately refers to his car in the feminine).
He says the latest Beetle “brings back the curves of the original and is much more masculine against the previous-generation car’s bubble-shaped silhouette”.
Before he sprung for his current ride, he was torn between the Bug and a Polo supermini, but ultimately went for the style-wagon Volkswagen. Indeed, the Beetle is a hip little thing, but R has conspired to make it even more fashion-forward by enhancing its retro charm.
To begin with, he was very clear about what options he wanted on it, which is why he only took delivery of his Beetle in February 2013 after a six-month wait. Even so, the most “retro-licious” thing about his car (and R’s favourite mod), the chrome “hubcap” wheels and whitewall tyre inserts, had to be specially imported from the US.
Similar to the items used on the limited-run Beetle Cabriolet 50s Edition, R points out they’re not available over here, and as he proudly states, he believes the set mounted on his “super bug” is the only one in Singapore.
That “nostalgic” exterior is complemented by a vinyl dashboard wrap that simulates the look of mahogany trim. On that note, R plans to add a chrome-and-wood roof rack and wooden boot floor in the near future.
His Beetle’s throwback style is something he was gunning for, which he says “brings out the car’s character” more than the usual “tuner” route of big wheels and low-profile tyres.
To keep the beat going while R cruises around in his Beetle, he’s opted for an uprated factory sound system that’s been tuned by famed guitar-makers Fender. While we’re not sure if R exclusively plays tunes from yesteryear in his car, we’re certain whatever tracks he has on his playlist, they must sound pretty good through those Fender-fettled speakers.
For all of the aesthetic mods on R’s car, he hasn’t neglected performance. His Beetle rides on a set of D1 Spec adjustable coilovers (both damping force and ride height can be tweaked), which allows his car to go from “cruise control” to “body control” at the twist of a knob.
In addition to that, his car’s 1.2-litre turbocharged engine has also received some attention. It “breathes” more freely through a HKS open-pod air intake, and the motor’s output has received a 33bhp bump thanks to a custom ECU reflash (it produces 105bhp in stock trim).
But as with all relationships, the path of true love doesn’t always run smooth, and while he’s obviously smitten with his ride, he says his Beetle’s chrome-plated wheels are difficult to keep clean and it does suffer from the occasional mechanical hiccup.
Still, he has no intention of giving “her” up so soon, in spite of the Toyota 86 and its close relative, the Subaru BRZ, catching his eye. He tells us he gets drawn to his Beetle each time he looks at it.
R sums it up best when he says, “I love the idea that I’m driving a modern classic. It’s the feeling of looking at the car and going, ‘Wow, I drive that’. It brings a smile to my face each time I look at her.”
THE LIST
+ Exterior
OEM rear spoiler
OEM headlights
Custom vinyl roof wrap
Custom LED licence plate lighting
Custom yellow-tinted foglights
+ Interior
Volkswagen Fender sound system
Custom “wood” vinyl dashboard wrap
Custom boot floor soundproofing
+ Engine
HKS open-pod air intake
Custom ECU tuning
+ Suspension/ Handling
D1 Spec coilover kit
+Wheels/Tyres
OEM “hubcap” 17-inch wheels
Atlas whitewall tyre inserts
Continental ContiPremiumContact 215/55 R17 tyres
