1998 Volkswagen New Beetle 2.0L 4AT FWD (115 HP)

Vehicle Overview

While the original Beetle, designed in the ‘30s, was still produced in Mexico, Volkswagen considered replacing it with a new model that carried over the nameplate and introduced the New Beetle in 1998 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The original Volkswagen Beetle, with its air-cooled engine at the back, was still produced in Mexico when the automaker started developing a successor for it. At first, it revealed the Concept 1 at the 1994 NAIAS, and people were amazed by the bold look of the vehicle. The car manufacturer was convinced that it was on the right path and continued working on the project and unveiled further developments of it at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995, while the official name of the New Beetle was announced at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show. Right off the bat, demands exceeded expectations, and Volkswagen had to push harder on the assembly lines from Pueblo, Mexico, where the car was manufactured, to increase production from 500 to 600 units per day. The car relied on the same PQ34 platform used by the Golf MkIV, which was later used for the Audi TT, the Audi A3, and the Skoda Octavia, to name just a few.

The Californian design team that penned the shape of the New Beetle tried to preserve the look of the original model. As a result, at the front, the car sported a rounded hood flanked by valanced wheel arches where the headlights were installed. However, since the car had a front-engine construction, the automaker had to adapt a grille to cool it, and that was placed below the wrapped-around plastic bumper.

From its profile, the rounded shapes of the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle resembled the original version of the car. However, it didn’t feature a flat windshield but a curved one. In addition, the roofline was extended rearwards with a rear tailgate for the trunk. Unlike its predecessor, the New Bettle had the engine at the front while the trunk was in the back. Like the original version, the new model featured a set of taillights mounted on the arched rear fenders.

Inside, the retro design continued with the round instrument cluster that fronted the driver, resembling the one from the original model. However, unlike that, the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle, besides the speedometer and the fuel level, also showed the coolant temperature. A tiny vase adorned the round visor that protected the dials. On the center stack, the automaker placed the round vents, the stereo, and the HVAC control panel. The car’s occupants were hugged at the front by comfortable bucket seats, while in the back, a flat-folding bench seat provided enough room for three adults.

Volkswagen installed only gasoline engines for the 1998 New Beetle at the sales start. However, in 2002, it expanded the range with turbodiesel, which was in high demand in the European market. Furthermore, to attract more customers, the car manufacturer also offered a turbocharged gasoline powerplant for the model starting in 2001. All versions sent the power to the front wheels, even though the PQ35 platform allowed it to be available with an all-wheel drive system.