Every car needs some TLC from its owner, and this is not relative. Whether one may drive a tough, all-around utility vehicle or a classy luxury sedan—the drill is standard. But for Beetle lovers who enjoy utilizing the performance of their VW parts, the TLC that they willingly give has an extra cherry on top. Not to say that the Beetle is high-maintenance, because it definitely is not. It is just that, (and all Beetle owners agree to this) the Beetle deserves a special kind of attention. This is often evident, as Beetles are often seen to be pampered in customized versions—just like Paris Hilton’s chihuahua.

Here is one simple tip to maintain your New Beetle—drive efficiently. This is one basic, but often overlooked fact for New Beetle drivers. This basically means that the use of the overdrive gears and the cruise control are very important. When one uses overdrive, the engine’s speed will automatically decrease. This will lead to the reduction of both the car’s fuel consumption, and the wearing out of the engine. This is a very practical way to maintain engine performance, especially since rpm is not the thing to use in traffic. Same with the cruise control. This will help you keep a constant speed in driving, so fuel consumption follows.

The basics are to be observed—regular tune-ups and change oil, checking of every car part’s efficiency. If something gets broken, have them replaced immediately with the same high-quality VW parts that the car is decked out with. Nonetheless, just take your Beetle out to long drives for it to enjoy, and for you to feel, the real Beetle lovin’.

In case you own a New Beetle and you don’t know, there really is a New Beetle Sunshine Tour. At least in Germany there is. For its neighboring countries too. In America though… Anyway, in order to celebrate the moment as the last New Beetle rolled off its plant last June, New Beetle owners from Europe got together last July to make the event more special. New Beetle owners, together with the Cabriolet and customized owners of VW parts showed up and made this occasion truly “one for the road”. It was held in Germany, in Lubeck, with a flower-power party to close, graced by the band New Beetles.

The most interesting part about this, is that this gathering of the VW parts loyalists was made possible by another owner. Take note, not Volkswagen, as this was not their gimmick or whatever. It was a private initiative by Gabriele Kraft back in 2004, and it has been a very colorful and successful event ever since. When will this kind of happiness ever reach the Statue of Liberty? Why not spread some sunshine to the land of milk and honey people? Start your own Sunshine Tour, because after all, “This meeting is not just about beautiful cars, but about the people that love the New Beetle,” Kraft said in an interview.

Volkswagen’s latest offering, the most hi-tech attempt to re-live the Beetle, is continuously gaining praises in the auto industry. With America’s consistent search for the most ideal small car, the Up! May just be giving them a ray of hope. Critically engineered, its VW parts were assembled, and notably created not just for Volkswagen’s vision. This car seemed to be ready for the market, and just ready to serve its growing fanbase. Its only seemingly close contemporary at the Frankfurt is the Toyota iQ. Hence, when these two small cars get a go signal on production, Americans will surely await its arrival at our shores.

Its concept of adding a different twist to the reliable VW parts was well-appreciated. All the more when it placed its engine in its rear—a real bow of respect to the Beetle. While it only aims to match the popularity and success of the Beetle, it does not totally aim to replace it. It only comes as a solution to the demands of driving smart, driving small.

For those who want to read about a very heartfelt love story, stay glued onto this page. For while one may only be looking for some information on the VW parts that he or she needs, this page will give more. Hence, a real love bug story…

Deb Hartegan, a self-confessed Beetle lover from Melbourne City, said that her lifelong loyalty to the VW parts started since her high school days. As a matter of fact, even all her family members are just as happy with VWs as she is. She gave birth to twin brothers who, at their age of 22, have equally loved the Volks. One is driving a 1972 convertible Beetle, and the other one is sporting a 1966 bus. What is more interesting, is that Deb and her children have shared about thousands of dollars on these two vehicles. They wanted these VWs to be re-invented and to run a new road.

“Years ago, you could restore a VW pretty cheaply,” she said in an interview conducted by Florida Today. “To do a quality restoration today gets up there. By the time it’s done, it’s way over $20,000.”

While this may have cost a lot, car owners like the Hartegans are still very happy. For if others may find joy in getting toy pets and dolling them up, in this case, it’s a Beetle. The four months that the Hartegans allotted for Steve Pounds and the rest of his crew at Space Coast Imports is just right. Their Vws will be proudly showcased at the upcoming Volkstoberfest in Wickham Park.

“People restore cars for the nostalgia,” Pounds said in the same interview by Florida Today. “Almost everyone had a VW in their lives.” Well said Mr. Pounds, we couldn’t agree more. (source: floridatoday.com)

The automotive industry is now dominated by electrically-charged vehicles that promise to solve the great dilemma of oil price increase. Along with this advent came the goal to have less harmful emissions as well. These goals are easily met by the Beetle—thanks to Alaskan native Bart Grabman. Perhaps one may think that since the Beetle has already seized production, it could not possibly catch up with technology anymore. But with a little tweaking of the VW parts, the senior high school student proved us all wrong.

The 1971 Volkswagen bug was not magically converted into a 100% electric machine. Grabman merely used magic, for he really worked on the VW parts to turn the Beetle into the 100% electric machine. Story was, he came upon a certain kit on the Internet that was said to have all the parts that were necessary to convert the bug. This labor of love only cost him a good $3,500—a sweet deal for a price of having a gas-free Beetle beauty. Now that is a really genius way to show your Beetle love.

There are so many ways to show our love for the Beetle, and we can either flaunt this love, or just ride with it. Each and every Beetle has come a long way from its original roots in being Hitler’s ideal transportation during his dictatorship. Today, the Beetle can either be a sign of love, the Woodstock, a carefree life, or even Bumblebee or Herbie. By simply optimizing its VW parts, the Beetle can be more than just another four-passenger ride. Either way, we all show a bit of ourselves in every Beetle that we drive because a Beetle is just what we are—unique, and and ideal. Their VW parts could be easily cultivated to enhance their features too.

Here are some cool, pimped out Beetles that could be seen on the Internet, and they all look really swell. It shows the inherent versatility of the Beetle, since whatever persona one incorporates onto it, it still manages to look good. For instance, it can look hippie, and it can look hard-core punk. From girly, to downright sporty, the Beetle is still that flexible. So check out these pictures, and see which one fits you best.

This one is a cool, funky VW Beetle that a certain Major Stitch has posted on the net. If this is really his ride, then this one’s really funky Major!

This one is like the new-age Herbie, giving the New Beetle a twist of the classic love bug’s fame.

This one is among the “Pimped 69 Volkswagen Beetle”, and this ride just knows how to spruce up a bug. From its classy yet sporty exteriors to its cool interiors, this bug’s got it all. Check out the engine and the massive sound system too! This VW Beetle’s really all pimped out!

The Beetle is more than an icon, since it has also become a form of branching a part of us. If you have pimped out Beetles which you think is more better than these ones featured, feel free to holler and maybe this Blog can feature your bug. For the rest of the readers, try and explore the Beetle in you.

The only car plant in the world that is responsible for making the New Beetle and its VW Parts was sadly left impaired for ten days—the Volkswagen Mexico Plant has succumbed to its illness after being badly hit by Leftist attacks in Mexico, but it quickly got on its feet to keep its flag alive.

According to a report by Reuters, the Popular Revolutionary Army or the EPR has detonated a bomb last September 10 which was said to have caused a lot for the economy of Mexico. The rebels blew up “natural gas pipelines” which triggered the halt in energy supplies in major export companies. This led to the thousands of hours of loss in production. The country’s economy is badly hit by the attacks, all the more since their economy has been paralyzed by the US slowdown too. Mexico Felipe Caderon’s government is now alarmed by the capabilities of the rebels to stage such a devastating force upon the country.

The Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico, is now a picture that is far from where it used to be. From successful factory labor which assembles the world-famous VW parts and the New Beetle, it is now a plantation that carries out burnt particles of “hot molten steel” identified to be as car body parts and engine components. The rebel’s bombs greatly killed six major ducts in central and eastern Mexico, causing the pipelines to move about a quarter of Mexico’s natural gas. The 740-acre car factory was now a big devastation as they are responsible for bringing about two-thirds of its output to the United States and Europe—which has been halted for ten days. Production reportedly resumed last Sunday.

“All the manager types are nervous about reaching their production goals,” said Volkswagen engineer Carlos Varela in an interview by Reuters.

All businesses were hit by this attack as manufacturers admittedly felt the pain from having a second attack in just two months. According to Reuters, a Mexican manufacturer’s group named Canacintra said that this attack has cost about 2,000 factories that produce everything from surgical instruments to cement. Due to this, the Mexican government is now facing a huge loss in their crucial industrial sector, with which the country’s economic growth heavily relies on. Mexico’s finance ministry chief economist has predicted that this will immediately impress upon the results of the stocks, so there is indeed a lot for the country to worry about.

“We noticed gas pressure was falling quickly and so we had to shut off the furnaces right away,” said Coheto Ladino in the same interview, who helped operate several giant kilns fired by natural gas.

The EPR made their presence known in the year 1996 when they reportedly fired automatic weapons in the air during a political rally in a poor state called Guerrero. Their new strategy of bombing energy pipelines began with a wave of attacks last July according to Reuters. They aim to cut natural gas supplies to business but this month’s attack was obviously bigger.

After this trial, Volkswagen is optimistic in seeing this event through.

America is indeed one country that treasures all of the icons that it saw through. Be it immortal cartoon characters, or famous artists who pioneered what a song should sound like—they are all celebrated with equal fervor and admiration as they hallmark our generation. However, when they go away, they create such a big sore within our hearts… But every once in a while, they come back.

The highly celebrated VW parts gave birth to the Beetle, and it truly became a huge success as an icon of our generation. No other vehicle has seen this kind of popularity, or reached its own niche in the automotive industry. Along with its rise, the VW parts became lauded for its capabilities to create something as immortal as the Beetle. This is why many people mourned when they heard that the Beetle has ceased its production. With the New Beetle though, many have rejoiced over the Beetle’s ‘resurrection’, but some remained unhappy. The Daily has compiled a list of the “ten less-than-commendable comebacks from some pop-culture history’s favorite” yadda, yadda. But guess what—the Beetle ranked third??? Unbelievable!

“The “New Beetle” that emerged in 1998, however, is basically just a funny-looking sedan. It is insulting that the folks over at Volkswagen thought they could erase the fact that no one can obtain an amazingly vintage, properly functioning Beetle without paying millions or taking a trip to Mexico,” the feature said. What’s not to like about the New Beetle? It does not aim to replace the original Beetle for in the first place it cannot be replaced. It is only meant to showcase the next generation of what the Beetle technology could have had, so these people should not be so bitter over it. The Beetle, whether in the form of the original bug or the New Beetle, will always be loved, that’s for sure.

The spotlight of the Frankfurt auto show was mostly kept focused on two top carmakers as they have been successful in delivering what the people are looking for: small cars that are totally eco-friendly. Hence, it was the German genius of Volkswagen and Japan giant Toyota that reigned among the rest, the VW Up! and Toyota’s iQ. The good thing about them, is that these cars are for real—they are not just concepts—they are both four-seater cars that focus in getting the best in fuel efficiency, and in making less emissions.

The Volkswagen Up! Is comparatively longer to the contender of the Toyota, the iQ, with its high quality VW Parts and about a 3.45 m excess. It is still shorter though to VW’s new baby car, the Fox. The creation of VW”s chief designer Walter de Silva will reportedly go into production at around the year 2009, with a very captivating selling price of only €6,000. The car’s three-cylinder engine promises to maximize fuel consumption of around 70 mpg. The Up! Is all prepped up by Volkswagen to become their next icon car, and they are hoping that it will follow the footsteps of its predecessors, the Beetle or the Golf.

Meanwhile, since most car owners have known just how Toyota handled the green market with their Hybrid flagship, the Prius, the iQ is sure to be put into production with the same green technology but with the new twist. Toyota plans to incorporate a new car capability wherein it could be charged at any electrical power socket. This might be another first, which is probably why car companies are now up and running on their feet to follow suit. But VW is already through that phase, all they have to worry about is how to further enhance the VW parts to make the Up! climb a notch higher against its competition.

Volkswagen unveiled its new car, Up! concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show which happens to have the same mechanical layout as that of the Beetle, but in a different, smaller package, complete with VW parts. The same rear-engine takes us down to memory lane with the original Bug, as the Up! was said to have the same feature together with its rear-wheel drive that can accommodate four passengers. Walter De Silva, Volkswagen’s head stylist, was able to steer away from where most cars are headed in terms of design, at the same time allowing us to take a peek at what the future cars of Volkswagen will look like with the new Up! From the front of the vehicle, its six-sided angular headlamps embedded with the VW logo in the center will immediately capture onlookers. Its D-shaped intakes on each front and rear bumpers add a certain “glee” to the car’s look, which will surely give smiles to its driver. Fully armed with reliable VW parts in quality craftsmanship, the new Up! is also sure to make its safety optimized.

“Powered by a turbocharged two or a three cylinder engine with a simplistic mechanical interface and without many luxuries, the Up! is a perfect solution for growing nations, and with its projected 3.5 L/100 km fuel economy rating it would do well just about anywhere. Meanwhile, with its slick styling, ultra green image, and high-end LCD interfaces, it would be an urban hit,” a review by carpages.com stated. Will this mean the demise of our loved Beetle? No, I’m sure it is not. In fact, even if the Up! Is just a concept car, they are planning to bring it into the market not to replace the Beetle, but just to create a new version of it. After all, nothing will ever replace the Beetle.