The VW Beetle is the first car in Europe that can be ordered with a sound system from guitar and amp makers Fender. In 2011, Volkswagen showcased a concept car at the IAA in Frankfurt that was designed to pay homage to the legendary American company. That was the exclusive Beetle Fender. With its powerful looks and no less powerful sound system 400 watts, the concept car thrilled visitors to the show so much that Volkswagen decided to make it into a production car. It is now made its world premiere at the 2012 AMI in Leipzig.
The Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition is based on the already higher ‘Design’ level specification. The new Beetle model can be ordered in two shades of black: ‘Black Uni’ or ‘Deep Black Pearl Effect’. Black has been chosen so that the VW Beetle Fender Edition’s numerous chrome details are shown off to best effect. These include 18-inch ‘Disc’ alloy wheels as standard, the wing mirrors, the strip below the side windows, the inserts in the side sills, the two Fender signs on the left and right front wings, the ‘Beetle’ wording on the boot and, of course, the VW badge. The exterior standard specification also includes bi-xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights.
The car’s interior also has a very refined appearance. One very striking feature is the dash pad. Complete with chrome-plated Fender logo, it is finished in ‘Sunburst’ style, the two-tone wood design of many Fender guitars. The instrument panel thus creates a visual link to the world of rock music. In keeping with this, Volkswagen ships each Beetle with three exclusive Fender guitar picks.
Further standard features of the black-trimmed interior include redesigned sports seats with specially created central sections in fabric and sides and headrests in a black leather look, contrast stitching on the leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever, colour trimmed floor mats, cruise control, air conditioning and, of course, the Fender sound system complete with USB interface media in. The Fender system is controlled as standard via the panel for the RCD 510 audio system featuring touchscreen, integrated CD changer for six CDs, double tuner and SD card slot.
Automatically included with the sound system is adjustable interior ambient lighting in three colours white, red and blue. As well as indirect lighting strips below the front side windows, this includes an illuminated ring around each of the speakers in the doors. The sound system includes two high-end tweeters installed in each mirror triangle and rear side panel, while in the front doors are the woofers with double voice coils. Assigned to these are woofers in the rear side panels, each with a single voice coil. Additionally integrated into the system is a subwoofer with double voice coil located in an enclosed bass box in the Beetle’s boot. At the centre of the sound system is a 10-channel amplifier with class A/B power amps and an output capacity of 400 watts.
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