For no less than eighty years the Volkswagen Beetle did some unbeatable stuff around our planet. It still remains the most recognizable car ever, wherever you go on the surface of the other.
It is loved by young and old alike and we can enjoy it while the examples that are in the market exist. No more production of the lovely Beetle is taking place.
The Volkswagen Beetle is reportedly being replaced by a new nameplate, the VW Tarek. The CEO of VW Mexico Steffen Reiche told one tabloid in an interview that the replacement will be named the Tarek and this has been picked up by several outlets.
The executive further said that a Chinese model named the Tharu will donate the architecture of the Tarek. He said: “We’ll adapt the Chinese model for this market. Our version will be the stronger one, the rougher one compared to the Chinese one.”
Going by this information and if the various powertrains on the Tharu are anything to go by, then we expect a vehicle that has considerably low engine choices. The Tharu’s smallest engine is a 1.2-L gas that generates 116 hp.
It can also be had with a 1.4-L turbo 4-cylinder that makes just 150 hp. Then there is the 2.0-L turbo producing 186 hp. The gearbox on all these engines is a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels.
Will VW adopt these engines for the North American market? While this remains to be seen, the collective feeling is that the Beetle did its part and if it is indeed time for it to walk away, it goes when its acclaim is still very high.
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