SH

“No longer is the New Beetle
Point A to Point B. With the 1.8T model, setting there is

now at least half the fun.”

WITH 30% more horse-
power and 33% more
torque than the standard
New Eeetle 2.0, the New
Beetle 1.8T is now more
than just a retro-styled
economy car - it's a
sporty hatchback that's
fun to drive.
New Beetle }.8T madels
have the same turbocharged 150 horsepower 1.8-litre four-
cylinder engine (with five vaives per cylinder and dual overhead
camshafts) found in the Passat sedan. That compares with the
115-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant found in

the standard New Be:
The practical benefits ‘of the more powerful 1.8-litre motor

30 day powertrain guarantee
14 day owner exchange program

RE REWS ABU

OMOTIVE

Friday, October 8, 1999 - North Shore News -— 34

WITH 30% more horsepower than the standard New Beetle, the New Beetle 1.8T is

now a credible performer as well as an economica! hatchback. The 1.8T's tur-
bocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with five valves per cylinder and dual

overhead camshafts is borrowed from the mid-sized Passat sedan. Test drive the
New Beetle 1.8T at Wetmore Motors, 2203 Marine Drive, West Vancouver.

fun

wings and safety: for example, merging onto the
freeway in front of a looming semi-trailer; accelerating from 4
stop-light quickly in or to change lan the next turn;
getting through a traffic light before it turns red — and other
acceleration-dependent situations.

the other benetit ta the turbo engine is a noticeable
increase in the fun-to-drive quotient. No longer is the N
Beetle just a fanky way to get from point A to point B — get-
ting there ww at least half the fin. Though the tur-
bocharged L.8-litre fou ander engine is smaller than the
standard 2.0-litre motor, it’s quieter, smoother, and more
respol

‘There was no need to upgrade the New Beetle’s suspension
and brakes to match the new engin they were already bet-
ter-than-average. The New Bectle’s suspension, w
with the New Golfand New Jetra, offe: .
tion of handling and ride, its standard wheels ar
inch, and brakes are standard four-wl

are in time:

Comprehensive mechanical and safety inspection

Detaled cosmetic reconditioning
ICBC d.image check
Lien tree guaiantee

t pert

riniaice

is car you can enjoy driving on chal-
lenging roads, in part because it now has the power to tackle
hills, and overtake slower cars. It’s also quite comfortable
cruising on the freeway — the engine turns over a lazy
rpm. ata steady 100 km/h. ¢ optional ed automatic
transmission in my test car held its upshifts tor a sportier dri-
ving feel, and avoided s shitting up unnecessarily when coasting
down hills
Ther

The New Beetle 1.8

No difference in interior styling bi ‘
dard New Beetle and the 1] Both offer retro -stvling t
includes such nostalgic features as a single round instrument
cluster with a big speedy, small tachometer, fuel gauge and
bluc/purple backlighting, body- coloured inside door sills, alu-
minun-look spokes on the stce g WI heel, # grab handle on
enger side, and of course, a small bud vase for fresh

See Interior next page