Tag Archives: Beetle

Cars

An In-Depth Look At Volkswagen’s Air-Cooled Flat-4 Engine

The Beetle and Bus have been initially generally known as Type 1 and Type 2 fashions, as beforehand talked about. The engines that energy them, although, are also referred to as Type 1, Type 3, and Type 4 engines. We’ll do our greatest to maintain issues clear by utilizing acquainted mannequin names shifting ahead on this article.

The Type 1 engine was born with the Beetle. Over the years, it got here with quite a lot of displacements and energy outputs: 1,300cc, 1,500cc, and 1,600cc variants of the engine generated both 36 or 40 horsepower in inventory format. The solely main change to the Type 1 engine was the change to a dual-port consumption system in 1971. It was additionally used within the VW Bus.

The Type 3 engine is successfully similar to the Type 1 engine apart from a special cooling system, exhaust system, and clutch. Because of its flatter cooling system, it is identified colloquially because the “pancake” engine.

Finally, the Type 4 engine used larger diameter pistons and a shorter stroke to develop the displacement as excessive as 2,000cc by the top of manufacturing. The cooling fan mounts on to the top of the crankshaft, and the cooling and consumption system sits low and near the engine. Because of this, the engine grew to become generally known as the “suitcase” engine. This engine noticed energy output as excessive as 80 horsepower and even discovered its approach into the Porsche 914.

Motorsport

This Innocent Fiat 500 Is Hiding a Plethora of Hot Rod-Style Upgrades

Like the Volkswagen Beetle and Austin Mini, the Fiat 500 was a European individuals’s automobile that was comparatively cheap, giving consumers a easy car for getting round. Former Evo journal editor-in-chief Harry Metcalfe purchased a traditional instance at public sale and introduced it to a mannequin specialist in London to revive and improve the car. Little did he know, there have been already loads of upgrades put in. 

According to the public sale itemizing, this automobile belonged to the overall of police in Palermo, Italy. He allegedly had a workers of 30 individuals servicing round 250 autos. The sale claimed the automobile was inventory. But the engine tells a unique story.

Firstly, this isn’t an entirely authentic Fiat 500 energy plant. The block is correct, however the boring brings the displacement as much as 594 cubic centimeters. There’s additionally a warmer camshaft and modifications to the carburetor.

Even with all the current upgrades, Metcalfe plans to do extra modifications to the mill. An Abarth-branded, higher-capacity oil pan will assist with cooling. There may even be a higher-performance camshaft and machined cylinder head. He’ll improve the headlights to be brighter, too.

The builder tries to tempt Metcalfe with extra modifications. It’s much more work, however he might match elements like larger pistons, aluminum cylinders, and an oil cooler. However, Metcalfe’s spouse would not need the automobile to sound too aggressive, so he cannot set up an exhaust with loud, trumpet-like shops.

The Fiat 500 (also referred to as the Cinquecento) went on sale in 1957 with a rear-mounted 479-cubic-centimeter two-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels. Later, there was a 499-cc variant. Famously, Abarth modified 500s for racing with even bigger, extra highly effective engines. Massive aftermarket help meant that homeowners might have something from a inventory car to a totally constructed race automobile.

We look ahead to seeing what the technicians can do to make Metcalfe’s 500 extra thrilling whereas protecting it showing pretty inventory.

Cars

10 Iconic Movie And TV Cars Ranked Slowest To Fastest

Herbie was the Volkswagen Beetle with a coronary heart of gold and a penchant for mischief in 1968’s “The Love Bug” and its numerous follow-ups. While Herbie proved exceptionally resourceful as a race automobile, its means to assume independently was what actually made it stand out. Herbie confirmed feelings by honking its horn, flashing its lights, and getting itself out of difficult conditions by taking the wheel throughout a race. Imagine a automobile that not solely races with professionals but additionally celebrates a victory with a toot of its horn!

While a number of Volkswagen Beetles have been used to painting Herbie, the quickest was fitted with a Porsche engine and will attain speeds as excessive as 115 mph within the high gear. The unique features of this classic Volkswagen Beetle, resembling its spherical headlights and iconic racing stripes, make it immediately recognizable. According to D23, residence of the Official Disney Fan Club, a complete of 21 Volkswagen Beetles have been used in the course of the filming. Each automobile was personalized for its function, whether or not it was reaching excessive speeds on the monitor or performing hilarious stunts.

Herbie’s adventures grew to become a popular culture phenomenon. After “The Love Bug,” the adventures continued in sequels like 1974’s “Herbie Rides Again” and 1980’s “Herbie Goes Bananas.” Beyond that, a TV present titled “Herbie, the Love Bug” introduced Herbie’s escapades to the small display for 5 episodes in 1982.

Cars

Here’s How The Golf Became One Of The Best Selling Volkswagen’s Ever Made

Volkswagen’s want to discover a substitute for the Beetle was not unfounded. By 1970, gross sales for the Beetle had declined considerably, and greater than ever, the German automaker wanted an replace. That is when it introduced in Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugario. At the time, Giugario was in a interval of designing autos that featured exhausting strains and sharp curves, which grew to become generally known as his “folded paper” fashion of design. This fashion was in complete distinction to the Beetle, which was about as rounded a automotive as you had been going to search out in the marketplace.

This was not the one automotive Giugardo was creating for Volkswagen on the time. His first design to hit the market was for the Passat, which launched a 12 months earlier than the Golf, and the Scirocco adopted quickly after. Looking in any respect three of those fashions, it is clear they share lots of the similar design components, from the superbly lengthy rectangle entrance with rounded headlights to the sharply angled again. The Passat was extra of a sedan, and the Scirocco was extra of a sports activities automotive.

Then there was the Golf Mk1, which wound up being a smashing success. The Golf offered over six million models in its first decade of manufacturing from 1974–1983. A 12 months into its existence, VW launched the GTI variation to enchantment to those that wished extra velocity, and it additionally grew to become successful. After all of the years of wanting a Beetle substitute, it appeared like VW discovered it.

[Featured image by Vauxford via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]

Motorsport

Watch the Dyno Test of a Classic Air-Cooled VW Beetle with a Supercharger

The original Volkswagen Beetle, although it came fourth in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, is considered one of the most influential cars in history. With over 21 million units produced between 1938 and 2003, it was incredibly popular. It’s no surprise that Beetle enthusiasts still exist today and find different ways to customize their cars.

In the United Kingdom, there’s a group of people who enjoy installing superchargers on the Beetle’s air-cooled engines. They have a dedicated YouTube channel called “Kompressor Haus / VW Aircooled Superchargers,” which explores the technical aspects of fitting a Beetle engine with a supercharger. Their latest video features a supercharged Beetle going on a dyno run to demonstrate its significant power gains.

Before we dive into the dyno test, let’s talk about the modifications made to this Beetle. The engine has been upgraded from the original 1,600cc to 1,641cc, a common modification among Beetle enthusiasts. The car also has an upgraded carburetor setup and other minor tweaks that result in an additional 50 horsepower.

Now, let’s discuss the supercharger kit used in this Beetle. The kit is called the “Kompressor Haus Ultimate kit” and includes an AMR500 supercharger connected to a genuine Weber DCOE 40 carburetor with an MST serpentine pulley system. To support this kit, the car is equipped with an electric fuel pump and a crankcase oil breather. The kit costs $2,250 (1,750 British pounds) and promises to almost double the factory power of the Beetle.

But does it really deliver on its promise? The video takes us to the dynamometer where the supercharged Beetle undergoes a test to measure its engine power. The final numbers are impressive – 100.1 horsepower and 126.9 pound-feet of torque at the crank.

Motorsport

Volkswagen Confirms the Beetle Will Not Make a Comeback

Speculations about the resurrection of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle in the form of an electric vehicle have been circulating for years. However, the German automaker has officially declared that there are no plans to revive the Beetle. In an interview with Autocar, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer explained that the decision is primarily driven by marketing considerations.

During the pre-production test drives of the third-generation Tiguan, Schafer confirmed that an electric Beetle is not currently being considered. He clarified that it is not due to a lack of resources, finances, or time, but rather because it does not align with Volkswagen’s marketing strategy. When asked about the possibility of the Beetle returning for the modern era, Schafer stated:

“I don’t think so, because there are certain vehicles that have had their day. It wouldn’t make sense to bring it back. I wouldn’t say with 100 percent certainty. But from where I stand now, I wouldn’t consider it. It’s the same as Scirocco: it had its day, then there was a new model based on a reinterpretation. To do that again? I don’t think so. And going forward with balancing all these technologies and the cost that is associated with it, you’ve got to invest money in the best possible place.”


Opinion

Volkswagen Beetle fans, no need to worry: it won’t be making a comeback

As someone who absolutely loves the classic Volkswagen Beetle and owns one, I’m actually glad to hear that the Beetle won’t be returning anytime soon.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the Volkswagen ID Buzz is great. It pays homage to the original Beetle while incorporating modern electric vehicle design. But it’s comforting to know that Volkswagen’s plans don’t solely revolve around reviving retro cars.

Volkswagen CEO rules out Beetle revival as retro is “a dead end”

This is partly because it means Volkswagen won’t have to deal with the inevitable backlash on social media. Whenever a “spiritual successor” to a beloved 60s or 70s icon is announced, keyboard warriors are quick to criticize, claiming it’s nothing like the original and questioning its authenticity.

If you need proof of this, just look at the recent reaction to Ford’s plan to revive the Capri as an electric five-door crossover based on a Volkswagen architecture. It wasn’t exactly well-received.

But it’s also a relief because capturing the essence of the original Beetle would be extremely difficult in today’s world. We’ve already seen this with the two Golf-based Beetles that Volkswagen launched after the original’s discontinuation, which didn’t receive the warmest of receptions.

The MEB platform would make it easier to create a modern Beetle that is true to its roots: rear-wheel drive, flat floor, front trunk, and so on. However, the Beetle is a name that is synonymous with no-frills family transportation, durability, dependability, and above all, charm.

It’s hard to imagine any new electric vehicle, no matter how compact, well-designed, or competitively priced, embodying those same values.

Take a look at the Fiat 500 and Mini Electric, for example. These are luxury products that only loosely pay tribute to their 1950s predecessors (both of which were rivals to the Beetle back in the day). While they are beautifully engineered and visually appealing, what has truly garnered praise is their departure from the utilitarian principles that defined their original counterparts.

Volkswagen is indeed working on an affordable and cheerful electric city car for families. However, it will be a modern and stylish replacement for the Polo, rather than a retro-inspired Beetle. This is good news for those who value substance over style. It allows Volkswagen to embrace its bold electric future while keeping the long and fascinating Beetle legacy as a chapter in its history, rather than a burden.

News

Volkswagen CEO: No Revival for Beetle in Electric Era

The CEO of Volkswagen, Thomas Schäfer, has made it clear that there will be no revival of the Beetle in the electric age. In an interview with Autocar, Schäfer explained that while some of the brand’s nameplates will continue to be important, it is crucial to focus on the future rather than the past.

Recently, there has been much speculation about the future of Volkswagen’s longest-running nameplates. Schäfer had previously indicated that the Golf and GTI would likely continue in an all-electric lineup. Now, he has suggested that other iconic names are expected to make the transition from combustion to electric power.

Speaking to Autocar during a pre-production test drive for the upcoming third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan, Schäfer emphasized the value of current model names. He questioned why Volkswagen would discard names that have been successful and highly invested in, such as the Golf and Tiguan.

When discussing the criteria for an electric revival of a nameplate, Schäfer highlighted the global significance of the model. He stated that there are only a few truly iconic and globally recognized Volkswagen names, like the Golf and Tiguan. Names such as Scirocco and Arteon are unlikely to be revived. This naming philosophy is currently being finalized by the company.

As for the Volkswagen Beetle, Schäfer ruled out its return based on this strict criteria. He explained that certain vehicles, like the Beetle and the Scirocco, have had their time and it wouldn’t make sense to bring them back. Schäfer emphasized the need to invest in the best possible places, considering the costs associated with balancing different technologies.