VW Beetle Hot Wheels 40th Anniversary Edition

Like the Honda Racer car that we showed you earlier today (click here), VW’s special edition Beetle was created in order to celebrate Hot Wheels’ 40th anniversary. However, this time we’re talking about a life-size vehicle and not a die-cast, scale model. Available initially for the Mexican market where it is built, the VW Beetle Hot Wheels model will be produced in an ultra limited run of just 240 units.

Offered in a choice of two colors, red or blue, the special edition Beetle is distinguished on the outside by Hot Wheels-styled alloy rims, special decals, a rear spoiler and red mirrors. Inside, the Beetle features two-tone leather seats with red stitching, matching floor mats, aluminum sport pedals, and front headrests with an engraved Hot Wheels logo along with a special numbered plate. –Full image gallery after the jump

Via: Motorpasion

VIDEO: Volkswagen's Über Cool Super Bowl 2012 Beetle and Passat TV Spots [Full Edition]

We've already told you about Volkswagen's plans to air two new commercials during this Sunday's Super Bowl event and even shown you a teaser trailer of the 'Black Beetle' ad, but today, the German automaker released the full TV spots for both the 2012 Passat and 2012 New (or is that New²?) Beetle on Youtube.

The first advert is about the upcoming Beetle and shows a real bug with white racing stripes acting like a car on the forest ground, while the other commercial is for the U.S.-market spec 2012 Passat and is more humorous concentrating on a child dressed up as Darth Vader. Watch them both right after the break.

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VIDEO: VW Teases its Super Bowl Commercial for the 2012 New Beetle

Volkswagen is offering us a 10-second glimpse of its new 'Black Beetle' TV commercial that will air during the Super Bowl football game next Sunday, February 6, 2011. The is the first television spot for the next generation of the Volkswagen Beetle, which is scheduled for launch in May, 2011. However, the 'Black Beetle' commercial won't reveal the car itself as it is centered on a beetle (as in the insect) that runs around the forest outperforming all the other creatures. Follow the jump to watch the teaser spot.

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Mysterious Air Force Project Car Surfaces on eBay [with Video]

One of the most memorable movies quotes of all time is from the 1994 comedy-drama Forrest Gump, in which Tom Hanks’ character said: “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get”. Fast-forward to today, and eBay seems to be the proverbial box of chocolates with some truly sweet surprises, like this VW Beetle-based 1973 Air Force project car, named Talon.

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VW will Tease Next Beetle, Show Off 2012 Passat in Super Bowl XLV TV Spots

Joining an increasing number of advertisers, Volkswagen plans to air two never before seen TV spots during the 2nd and 4th quarters of Super Bowl XLV on February 6. The 30-seconds ads will showcase two models, the all-new 2012 Passat sedan that we first saw in Detroit earlier this month, and the so-called 21st Century Beetle.

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New Beetle Limousine is a Prom Queen’s Dream

New Jersey’s Route 22 Limousines is selling this 1999 Volkswagen Beetle limousine. The six passenger vehicle was built in 2001 and is finished with a white exterior and grey leather interior with TV, minibar, mirrored roof and custom lighting. Imagine the look on the face of Daddy’s Little Princess when you bring this home to take her to the Senior Prom...

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Chrysler and Volkswagen Issue Massive Recalls on Separate Issues

Chrysler and Volkswagen have issued massive recalls, affecting a combined total of almost 600,000 vehicles. The American automaker is recalling 367,350-2008MY Chrysler Town and Country/Dodge Caravan MPVs, while Wolfsburg’s finest will notify 228,236 owners of Golf, Jetta sedan, Jetta Sportwagen, New Beetle and Rabbit models, manufactured between 2006 and 2010 that their vehicles are being called in.

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WaterCar Gator: An Amphibious VW Beetle-Based Jeep Lookalike for the Budget Minded

In October ’09 we brought you details and pictures of WaterCar’s US$200,000 Python: a Corvette-engined sea going convertible / roadable speed boat. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t cheap, but some child-like part of us was enthralled with the sheer absurdity of it. Well, if you're on a tight(er) budget, the company also offers a considerably cheaper model. The Gator is essentially a kit car, albeit an impressive looking one at that.

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Spy Video: 2012 New Beetle Caught Testing on the Road

We've shown you the spy shots and told you about the Oprah gig where the famous TV host gave away 275 examples of the yet-to-be-revealed New Beetle to her audience. Now, the 2012 model was caught on video towing a pretty big trailer during a series of tests carried out in Europe. VW has promised that the new generation of the retro-styled hatch, which will arrive in May next year, will be a “driving machine" but did not elaborate further. Video after the jump.

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Nostalgic Styling Take on 2015 Volkswagen Transporter

Even though the current day Volkswagen Transporter is a descendant of the famous Beetle-derived Type 2 vans, it has never managed to enjoy the same level of popularity among enthusiasts as its predecessors did. One of the reasons why the past two generations of the Transporter (T4 and T5) never caught on as much as VW would have liked, could be that their styling is completely forgettable.

Eduardo Oliveira, a Brazilian designer who you may remember from the 2012 New Beetle study, has come up with a retro styled proposal to fix this issue for the Transporter's successor. Presented here in a variety of models, the conceptual Transporter is inspired by the famous T1 and T2 VW vans. Granted, the renderings need some polishing up but the idea is there. Hit the break for the full photo gallery.

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Oprah Teases 2012 VW Beetle on Show, Hands Out Free Cars to Audience [with Video]

Love her or hate her, Oprah is one of the most influential women in the USA, and a mere mention of a product on her show can send masses running to buy it. Volkswagen took advantage of Oprah's ability to sway viewers by choosing her show to reveal the design silhouette of its all-new 2012 Beetle. And if that wasn't enough, the TV persona surprised her audience by giving each and every one of them a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. Well, not now, but when the car comes out in May of 2011.

"Oprah Winfrey and the Volkswagen Beetle are two American icons, so when the "Oprah" show approached us with this incredible opportunity to share her Beetle experience with deserving viewers, we instantly wanted to be a part of it," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America.

"Our all-new 2012 Beetle exemplifies power, styling and sophistication, and is an automotive icon reinvented to create the new shape of performance," he added.

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Mental Breakdown: A 1,700HP Volkswagen Bus Dragster

Here's one Volkswagen Bus you wouldn't want to mess around with. It's called the Mental Breakdown and it's the creation of Wayne Allman from the British county of Warwickshire. Of the original 1965 VW model upon which it is based, only the driver's cabin was left intact. Power comes from an 8.4-liter supercharhed Keith Black V8 Hemi unit that runs on methanol and delivers 1,700bhp.

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Honey, I Shrunk the Camaro: VW Beetle-based 1970 Camaro Z28 Replica

Some replicas are outrageous because they use such unworthy underpinnings in their attempt to clone iconic cars. This here Beetle-based Camaro Z28 replica is a prime example. The all-fiberglass miniature "muscle car" has a Beetle chassis, frame, floor and 1.6-liter engine with dual carbs. The latter was recently freshened up - always according to the seller.

Even though it's a replica, the mini Camaro does have a few original Chevrolet components. These would be the 15x8 rally wheels and 1970 Camaro lights and bumpers.

The car's owner says these replicas were built back in the '70s (and are very rare), which could explain the weird choice of chassis: it was a ver cheap solution. The car is said to look and run good, mainly because it was stored since 1994.

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2012 VW New Beetle Caught Testing, will get 2.0T and Possible Hybrid

Before you are spy pictures of an all-new second-generation New Beetle. While the test mule appears to still be wearing the current model's nose and rear, the big news here is the appearance of the less "cute" and more "masculine" roof line that seems to be part Beetle and part stubby Chrysler Crossfire or Porsche 356; take your pick.

Volkswagen hopes the larger and lower-slung Beetle, which should get at least a few cues from the Ragster concept, will make the retro compact more appealing for the style- and space-conscious (and men, too, we hear).

Also, the actual production front and rear fascias will likely be more chiseled in order to be closer related to VW's current design language.

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Official: New VW NMS Sedan, Beetle, Tiguan and Eos Coming to the States Next Year

Volkswagen will reveal its future plans in a meeting with its 582 U.S. and 130 Canadian dealers that takes place in Atlanta and will also include a drive of more than 700 all-new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta sedans to the company's brand-new $1 billion assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In a statement to the press, the German automaker said it plans to introduce four all-new or refreshed models in 2011 including the NMS mid-size sedan, Beetle, Tiguan and Eos.

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The End: VW Launches 2010 New Beetle Final Edition Models at LA Show

After 11 years in production, the New Beetle will soon find a place in the books of automotive history. To mark the forthcoming end of the current generation New Beetle, Volkswagen announced the launch of a special Final Edition version at the Los Angeles motor show. Available in coupe and convertible forms, the Final Edition models will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the Spring of 2010 with production limited to 1,500 units each.

Both models receive a small number of upgrades and touches that include a special Aquarius Blue paint with a painted black roof on the coupe, and a two-tone Aquarius Blue and Campanella White paint scheme with a white top on the convertible.

The Final Editions also get individually numbered badges, fog lights, a sport suspension and unique 17-inch alloy wheels.

Interior upgrades concern the individually numbered Final Edition steering wheel and in the case of the convertible, a white interior that matches the top.

There are no changes under the hood with both models powered by VW's 150 horsepower 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder gasoline engine matted to a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic.

Prices for the coupe model start at $20,240, while the convertible model begins at $27,170.

Volkswagen Releases New Beetle 'Black-Orange' Special Editions

Continuing its long-lasting love affair with special edition models, Volkswagen has announced the launch of the 'Black-Orange' series for the New Beetle hatch and convertible. Both body styles are available with either a black finish and contrasting white stripes on the sides or an orange finish with black stripes. The exterior package is complemented by a set of 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels.

There are no photos of the interior, but Volkswagen said that the special edition New Beetles get a three-spoke leather steering wheel, aluminum pedals and sport seats with a unique design plus floor mats and gear leather trim with contrasting orange stitching.

The vehicle's standard equipment also includes air conditioning, an upgraded audio system, center armrest and electric windows.

The New Beetle 'Black Orange' models are available with several engine options with prices in Germany starting from €22,550 (around US$33,800) for the hatch with the 102HP 1.6-liter petrol engine.

eBay Bathtub Find: Customized 1967 Volkswagen MicroBus

When it comes to customizing classic VW Beetle or Bus models, the sky's the limit to what owners can create. This particular 1967 example of the VW Bus that also goes by the names Type 2, Transporter and Microbus, has been turned into a hip convertible though some may find that it looks more like a bathtub on wheels. Either way, the custom made Bus with the suicide rear-doors is up for grabs on eBay - mullet loving blond will most likely not be included in the transaction

Link: eBay , Via: Cardomain