Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible

Press Release

The New Beetle Convertible Soft-Top The three-layer cloth soft-top, which stands up to winter conditions, can be opened manually or with an optional electrohydraulic system. The soft-top frame is covered by the headliner and has three fold areas that rest upon each other in the form of a Z when open. The three areas are formed by the segment directly behind the A pillar, a middle segment and the rear roof section. The front section has an integrated locking mechanism and the rear one has a bonded heated mineral glass rear window. This construction reduces the height of the top when opened and also means that the engineering team has made it comparatively easy to open the mechanical version of the top. Furthermore, the outer skin of the soft-top is tightly stretched and, with the corresponding connections to the frame, cannot bulge out even at top speed. No target for the airstream: when the top is up, the windows fit perfectly into the sealing system; when the top is opened, they sink by 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) The top is released with a one-hand release in the front crossmember. This is done with a lever that lies flat in the inner roof lining when not in use. As soon as the lever is pulled out with a button, it can be turned to the left in order to release the soft-top from the locking device in the windshield frame. At this time, the side windows electrically lower approximately 60 millimeters or 2.4 inches from the door and roof sealing system, which has been designed with a view to sound insulation. In addition, a central switch allows the windows to be opened and closed with the press of a button. The soft-top can then be completely opened either manually or electrically. While the top is opening, the blue display of the outside temperature – at the level of the rear-view mirror – changes to a yellow vehicle/top symbol. The display does not show the temperature again until the open soft-top has been firmly locked with a special anchorage system or until the top has been completely closed. Electrohydraulic soft-top opens and closes in only 13 seconds For safety reasons, an acoustic signal sounds when the opening or closing process has completed when the electrohydraulic system is used. After the driver releases the top in the front roof area, either the driver or the front seat passenger pulls a button with unambiguous operation that is located next to the hand brake and so activates the opening. The unit not only lowers and closes the soft-top, it also independently controls the electromechanically controlled linkage flaps on the sides of the outer area of the rear seats. These flaps, finished in the same color as the car, are closed when the soft-top is open and protect the mechanism underneath as well as perfecting the visual effect. The technically complex procedure for putting the top down lasts only 13 seconds. Volkswagen delivers the standard model New Beetle Convertible with a tonneau cover in the same color as the interior. This is stretched over the soft-top once it has been folded together. This tonneau cover protects the top from dust during longer drives, but its use is optional. Passive Safety of the New Beetle Convertible The New Beetle Convertible, with standard front airbags and side airbags in the front, is one of the safest open vehicles on the market. One of the many reasons for this: the standard rollover protection. The system is located behind the back of the rear seat. Rollover and crash sensors detect when the car is in danger of rolling and trigger the protection system via a control device. When this happens, two profiled supports shoot up and, together with the reinforced windshield frame, protect all four seats in the Volkswagen. The rollover protection system's profiled supports are in place in only 0.25 seconds; they then form an effective unit with the windshield frame In detail, the rollover protection system consists of two separate cassettes, each of which is screwed in behind the rear seats to six linking points between the two rear trunk walls. Because of the very efficient statics of the profile construction and pass-through screws, the rollover protection can absorb considerably higher forces than other systems known today. As soon as the sensors detect the there is a danger of an impending rollover or collision (front, rear, side), a so-called articulated lever release system frees the two extendable profiled supports, which spring out a maximum of 265 millimeters or 10.4 inches within 0.25 seconds. The profiles are securely locked in their end positions. If the soft-top is closed, the spring-loaded rollover protection system deploys against the soft-top. The high torsional rigidity of the convertible meets extremely exacting standards In addition to the rollover protection system, the body, reinforced and completely galvanized in all essential areas (12 year guarantee against rust perforation), ensures maximum comfort. Selected reinforcements to the body, such as ultra high-strength tubes in the A and B pillars as well as in the doors and on the rear seat crossmember, result in optimum rigidity. The additional steps taken on the body and their effects on specific types of crashes, in detail: Offset crash – The New Beetle Convertible shows very limited footwell deformation and slight risk of injury to the lower extremities. This was achieved by

• Large-surface energy dissipation throughout the entire front vehicle structure using a stable composite metal arrangement and additional welded joints;
• Additional reinforcements in the front floor.

Side crash – the development team was able to achieve only slight deformation and consequently a reduced risk of injury by selecting

• Additional high-strength reinforcements in the door sill, in the B pillars, the side wall and in the floor;
• A larger door sill cross-section;
• High-strength impact absorbers in the doors,
• Selective energy-absorbing side panels, coordinated to the convertible.

Rollover – neutralizing the dangers from a potential rollover is a major concern with convertibles. Therefore the New Beetle has

• The rollover protection already outlined and reinforced windshield frame;
• A reinforced back wall for absorbing effective forces during a rollover.

Furthermore, the especially stable back wall and additional reinforcement measures also reduce the consequences of a rear crash. The vibrational behavior of the New Beetle Convertible Just as exemplary as the crash behavior of the New Beetle Convertible is the vibrational comfort; this is a discipline in which open automobiles are especially likely to show steering wheel jitter and uncomfortable body movements under certain circumstances. The new Volkswagen convertible withstands these tendencies with its high torsional rigidity, an engine-transmission unit designed as a dynamic vibration absorber, an aluminum reinforcement capusle under the engine and diagonal supports in the rear axle area. This means that it is not necessary to use any additional heavy vibration absorbers (9 to 14 kilo or 20 to 30 pounds each). The vibrational behavior of the convertible is “Best in Class�; furthermore, it even outdoes the next higher vehicle class Taken together, these steps are clearly effective: the vibrational behavior of the New Beetle Convertible is “Best in Class“ - and not only in comparison to its own segment, but also to the next higher one. An example: in up to 68 percent of the cases, the vibration paths in the area of the A pillar are smaller in the transverse direction than those of the considerably more expensive competition in the larger middle class. The driver in particular notices the superior vibrational comfort of the New Beetle Convertible because the steering column is free from vibrations.