gavriil

Volkswagen has released the first official photos of its highly anticipated 2003 New Beetle convertible, due to arrive in North American dealerships by the end of the year.

The U.S. will be the largest market for the 2003 New Beetle convertible, which is being built at Volkswagen's assembly plant in Puebla, Mexico. The convertible will be sold alongside the New Beetle sedan, first launched in North America in March of 1998. The sedan has recorded U.S. sales of more than 320,000 units so far, according to VW.

The New Beetle convertible follows in the footsteps of the Volkswagen Cabrio and the original Beetle convertible of the '50s, '60s and '70s.

In the U.S., the 2003 New Beetle convertible will be initially offered with the 115 hp 2.0 engine in the GLS trim. Later in calendar year 2003, a 2.0 GL model will be available, as will the 150 hp 1.8T engine in the GLS and GLX trim levels. In Canada, the 2003 New Beetle convertible will be sold in the 115 hp 2.0 GLS and late-arriving 1.8T GLX trim levels. All models feature a standard five-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic - a first for a car in this segment.

The cloth-lined, three-layered soft-top rests on the area of an imaginary C-pillar, reminiscent of the classic Beetle convertible. The power top is initially opened using a button and a one-hand release mechanism and closes at the press of a button, taking 13 seconds each way.

On the safety side, VW's Automatic Rollover Supports have been integrated into a silhouette of the open convertible. The system is located behind the rear seat. The rollover and crash sensors detect when the car is in danger of rolling and trigger the protection system.

Volkswagen will release pricing for the 2003 New Beetle Convertible later this fall.

Dom418

Oh my...

That may be the ULTIMATE Chick car. :P

CLUofI

if i ever see a man driving that, there had better be a rainbow sticker on the bumper.

five speed manual and 6 speed auto, that is a different combo, you would think it would be way cheaper to use a 5sp auto and 6 sp stick.

Zapata

imagine how slow that car is gonna be......

Scooter

i liked the Austin Powers Beetle better

EdgarFanCLS

I agree. VW has come closer than ever to mastering an effeminate image with that car.

BigPimp

I am wondering how does that tool fit in the back seat, in the second picture?

yeah, deffinite chick mobile.