Fashion trends tend to be cyclical, which is why if you look around any metropolitan area right now, you’ll likely see folks decked out in vintage threads, neck scarfs, loafers, and bow ties. In the ‘70s, denim was the real cat’s meow, and whether it was frayed, embroidered, or bell-bottomed, Volkswagen wanted to capitalize.
In September of 1973, VW introduced the first Jeans Beetle, a special edition model lathered in blue jean cloth. The kids loved it. Nearly a half-century later at the 2015 New York Auto Show, the German brand premiered an updated concept version as a tribute, echoing the pop culture resurgence of casual chic and hippie garb. Now, the company is prepping to unleash 2,000 units of the 2016 Beetle Convertible Denim, which starts at $25,995.
Based on the Beetle Convertible, the limited edition features a light blue denim-ish material on the seats, with color-matched trim on the dash, center console, and doors. The seats feature “jeans-inspired” pockets on the sides as well, a nice design touch that will inevitably house countless gum wrappers and receipts for years to come.
Mechanically, the vehicle is unchanged from the standard droptop, which equips a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine that develops 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That power meets the pavement by way of a six-speed automatic gearbox, the only transmission available. As standard, the topless Beetle Denim comes with Volkswagen’s MIB II infotainment unit and a 5.0-inch touchscreen display.
On a more formal note, Volkswagen is likely planning a new hybrid hatchback dubbed the XL3. Aimed at the fuel-sipping Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq, the sleek hatchback could return up to 80 mpg in a mixed European cycle, which is a good step toward putting Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal behind it. For more on the XL3, click here.
Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.
With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?