2013 Beetle Cabriolet

The Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens at the end of this month, will see the debut of the new Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet.

As with previous generations the car gets a fabric roof, and it can be electrically opened and closed at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h). For the first time, the designers seem to have solved the problem of getting the Beetle’s soft-top to sit fairly flat when retracted, something that will help rearwards visibility and should prevent any visual associations to prams.

Rollover accident protection is provided by strengthened A pillars and a pair of concealed units that sit behind the rear seats. These are raised almost instantly in the event of a crash, following activation by the car’s central airbag triggering unit. As an additional safeguard, head-thorax airbags are also fitted as standard.

European sales are due to begin in spring 2013. From launch, a range of seven petrol and diesel engines will be offered that range in power from 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS) to 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS).

UK prices have yet to be announced, but in Germany the Beetle Cabriolet is going to cost from €21,350.

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