VW special editions farewell Beetle, Scirocco R

VOLKSWAGEN has announced running model year changes to the Passat as well as a number of limited-edition variants that farewell the slow-selling Beetle and Scirocco R models from its Australian line-up.

The Beetle Classic will go on sale in Australia in September followed by the Scirocco R Wolfsburg in November and once the allocation of these variants is sold out the models will be discontinued.

Sales of the Beetle have slowed to a trickle in recent years with just 125 sold to the end of July, a slight increase over January to July 2015.

For the full year 2015 VW shifted 240 units, a drop of 50 per cent compared with 2014, the first full year of sales for the second-generation ‘New’ Beetle.

The arrival of the Classic marks the last chance for fans of the retro hatch to snap up a Beetle in Australia, but keen buyers had better be quick as there are just 53 examples on offer.

It will be priced from $36,990 plus on-road costs, an increase of $5600 over the regular Beetle.

Extras not found on the standard version include retro-style 17-inch ‘circle’ black alloy wheels Classic decals down the side and further Classic interior and exterior flourishes. The 118kW/240Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine is unchanged.

To cap off the Scirocco’s five-year run in Australia, Volkswagen will offer 150 examples of the Scirocco R Wolfsburg edition from November this year, a name that celebrates VW’s global headquarters that was also used on the recent ballistic Golf R wagon.

Pricing for the final versions of the three-door hot hatch starts at $49,490 plus on-roads for the manual and $51,990 for the dual-clutch DSG transmission, representing a $3500 premium over the standard version.

The Scirocco R Wolfsburg edition gains motorsports-style bucket seats, black 19-inch Lugarno alloy wheels and it is available in two colours – Oryx White Pearl or Rising Blue.

Volkswagen has registered 204 sales of the Scirocco this year, an 11.7 per cent dip over the first seven months of 2015.

It had a bumper year in 2015 finishing up with 367 sales, a 100 per cent improvement over the 183 units from 2014.

The German car-maker is yet to announce replacements for the Scirocco or the Beetle so their futures in other global markets remain unclear.

VW will also apply the Wolfsburg moniker to a special edition Touareg large SUV from September that is based on the $85,490 V6 TDI. The special version will be offered for a $3500 premium at $88,990 plus on-roads.

Additions to the Touareg include diamond-stitched Nappa leather upholstery, heated and cooled seats, black 20-inch Mallory wheels, adaptive cruise control, Front Assist and City Emergency Braking. It will be offered in Reef Metallic Blue.

Joining the Touareg in September will be the Polo Beats special edition priced at $21,990 driveaway with a manual gearbox or $24,490 driveaway for the DSG automatic.

Ordinarily, the 81TSI on which the Beats is based retails from $18,460 plus on-road costs or $21,190 for the DSG.

It takes its name from the famous audio system and includes the Beats sound system as standard as well as 16-inch alloy wheels, a choice of three exterior colours and Beats exterior and interior trim highlights.

As part of model year 2017 updates, Volkswagen will introduce running changes to the Passat mid-sizer form October, including the addition of a new variant to the range.

The Passat 206TSI R-Line will be offered as a sedan and wagon and is powered by a 206kW four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, driving all four wheels through VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and paired with the seven-speed DSG as standard.

The 206TSI R-Line becomes the flagship of the Passat range just as the CC coupe-sedan is discontinued from VW’s Australian line-up – possibly in preparation for a new-gen version that has been spotted testing this week – and is priced from $57,990 for the sedan and $59,990 for the wagon, representing a $10,500 jump up from the 140TDI.

The CC was priced at $67,990 plus on-roads before its demise.

Standard gear for the 206TSI is yet to be revealed but it is believed to be extensive and will include an Active Info Display and Adaptive Chassis Control and will be offered with just one option – a panoramic sunroof.

Model year changes to existing Passat variants include the addition of 17-inch Soho alloy wheels and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking on the 132TSI, while all Comfortline, Highline and Alltrack variants gain an electric seat memory function.

R-Line Packages now also feature the Active Info Display and 18-inch Monterey alloy wheels, replacing the previous 19s that are now reserved for the 206TSI R-Line.

2016 Volkswagen special editions pricing

Polo Beats	$21,990†
Polo Beats (a)	$24,490†
Beetle Classic (a)	$36,990*
Scirocco R Wolfsburg	$49,490*
Scirocco R Wolfsburg (a)	$51,990*
Passat 206TSI R-Line sedan (a)	$57,990*
Passat 206TSI R-Line wagon (a)	$59,990*
Touareg Wolfsburg (a)	$88,990*

†Driveaway
*Excludes on-road costs