Volkswagen Beetle: convertible confirmed, launching this year

The soft-top version of the second-generation Volkswagen Beetle comes around 18 months after the coupe was officially unveiled simultaneously at the 2012 New York and Shanghai motor shows. The car has since gone on sale across North America and Europe.

The Volkswagen Beetle Convertible is not expected to launch in Australia until later next year at the earliest, following the Beetle coupe confirmed for early 2013. The hardtop Beetle was initially scheduled to arrive in local showrooms in the final quarter of this year but has recently been pushed back.

Volkswagen has confirmed the Beetle Convertible will be available with the choice of three engines: a 127kW/240Nm 2.5-litre naturally aspirated five-cylinder petrol, 149kW/280Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 103kW/320Nm 2.0-litre diesel.

A number of other engines currently available in the European-spec Beetle coupe, including the 77kW/175Nm 1.2-litre TSI and 118kW/240Nm 1.4-litre TSI from the Volkswagen Golf, are also likely to be available when the convertible version goes on sale.

The Volkswagen E-Bugster Speedster, pictured here, was first seen at the 2012 Beijing motor show and was based on the fixed-roof E-Bugster concept from the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.