Review: 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S
SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS Hard to believe, but Volkswagen's New Beetle has been with us for almost four years. It has become a familiar sight in most places, and no longer stops traffic. Beetle drivers now have some privacy. Does that mean the Beetle is dead? Not even. There is still plenty of life left in the Beetle line, as to maintain interest Volkswagen keeps introducing new variations on the theme. The latest is the extremely lively Turbo S. Turbocharged Beetles, using the 150-horsepower version of VW's 1.8-liter turbocharged 20-valve four-cylinder engine, have been adding stealthy excitement to the line for a while now, and continue in 1.8T GLS and GLX trim. I say ``stealthy'' because the regular 1.8T models have few visual differences from the standard Beetle models. A movable spoiler that raises at speed and is mounted just forward of the rear window is the major difference. The Turbo S, on the other hand, will emphatically not be mistaken for any other Beetle version. New front and rear bumper fascias give it a definite sports look, which is further accentuated by special alloy wheels. The extra attitude is no pose, for the Turbo S's engine has been hot-rodded to 180 horsepower and drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Turbo S-specific trim, including leather seating surfaces and special aluminum pieces, is found inside. I first drove the New Beetle Turbo S when it was introduced to the automotive press in Phoenix, Arizona, last December. A long day driving through the mountains showcased its comfort and real- world handling, and time spent on the track at Firebird Raceway proved that the ``S'' (for ``Sport") is no misnomer. Currently I've been driving one at home. The Turbo S works well in city or commute traffic, on the open road, on the Interstate, or on the track, and offers upscale comforts that are not common in its class. APPEARANCE: From the side, the Turbo S could be mistaken for any other New Beetle with fancy 17-inch wheels, which look like alloy discs with five radial slots. In side view, it has the same almost-symmetrical arched shape as all other New Beetles. But from the front, turn signals below and inboard of the headlamps hint at differences. More obviously, a large three-piece air intake sits in the bumper fascia below the smiling hood line. It looks straight off an endurance racer, and incorporates twin foglamps. At the rear are found a ``ground-effects'' panel over the bumper fascia and a chrome-tipped dual exhaust. And at speed, the roof-mounted spoiler is raised. COMFORT: The Turbo S sits at the top of the New Beetle lineup, and boasts a comfort and equipment level that is at the top of the affordable small sports coupe class. It is differentiated from more expensive luxury-sports cars more by minor details than by fit and finish and material quality, which are first-rate. The interior design is the same as in other New Beetles, but with unique seats and white, not blue lighting for the instruments at night. The well- bolstered front bucket seats are manually-adjustable, but in all important ways, including cushion height (a VW characteristic for quite a while) and have leather facing with contrasting cushions and bolsters. Real aluminum, not the metallic plastic more common in the class, is found in the steering wheel spokes, and for trim pieces on the door and glovebox, gearshift lever, and bud vase. The pedals are aluminum with rubber inserts. The steering wheel is manually adjustable for tilt and reach. As with other Beetles, the tachometer is small and hard to see, but the engine's power characteristics (and a rev-limiter) make that less of a problem than one might suspect. Also like all Beetles, the body styling reduces rear seat headroom and trunk space versus those of its close cousin, the VW GTI. But rear seat access is very good, and headroom is no worse than in most other small sports coupes. There is still adequate trunk space. SAFETY: The Turbo S adds standard ``ESP'' stability control to the New Beetle's rigid body structure with front and rear crumple zones, dual front and front side airbags, and antilock disc brakes. ROADABILITY: Like other New Beetles, the Turbo S is a front- wheel drive car with a unibody chassis. Front suspension is by independent MacPherson struts, while the Volkswagen twist-beam axle is found at the rear. It's a tried-and-true design that has been honed to a high degree in the Turbo S. Stiffer, but not too stiff, spring and shock rates make for great cornering ability with no sacrifice of comfort - this car can appeal to an older, more comfort- oriented buyer than many other sports coupes. But it can still be pushed hard in an autocross or on a race track. I did both at the introduction, and the car was not out of its element at all. Don't be fooled by the retro styling, the Turbo S is a very competitive sports coupe. PERFORMANCE: Nostalgia need not apply. Your Beetle in the old days was never like this. With higher turbo boost and electronic control software upgrades, the Turbo S's version of VW's 1.8-liter, 20-valve four-cylinder turbomotor puts out 180 horsepower at 5500 rpm, and 174 lb-ft of torque between 1950 and 5000 rpm. That's 20 percent more horsepower and 12.3 percent more torque than the regular Turbo Beetle, and over three times as much horsepower than the most powerful old Beetle. It's matched to a smooth and quick close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, but shifting is strictly optional in many situations given the engine's broad torque spread. Acceleration, with 0-60 officially 7.4 seconds, is almost a second less than the regular Turbo Beetle (and over 10 seconds less than any stock Bug!). Turbo lag is nonexistent, as is torque steer. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes do a great job of stopping, and are aided by standard ``ESP'' electronic stability control. CONCLUSIONS: Retro-chic styling meets serious comfort and speed in the new Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S. SPECIFICATIONS 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle Turbo S Base Price $ 23,400 Price As Tested $ 24,400 Engine Type dual overhead cam 20-valve turbocharged inline 4-cylinder Engine Size 1.8 liters / 109 cu. in. Horsepower 180 @ 5500 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 173 @ 1950-5000 rpm Transmission 6-speed manual Wheelbase / Length 98.7 in. / 161.1 in. Curb Weight 3,005 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 16.7 Fuel Capacity 14.5 gal. Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline recommended for best performance Tires P225/45 VR17 Michelin HX MXM4 XSE Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, antilock standard Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut / semi-independent torsion beam axle with coil springs Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 23 / 30 / 25 0 to 60 mph 7.4 sec (mfg) Coefficient of Drag (cd) 0.38 OPTIONS AND CHARGES California and Northeast emissions spec $ 100 6-disc CD changer $ 350 Destination charge $ 550