This is the All-New 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible [14 Photos]

We still have a long way to go before the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show kicks off on November 30, but Volkswagen couldn't wait to reveal the convertible version of its latest Beetle model.

Not that we're surprised in any way as the new Beetle Convertible follows the same formula with its predecessor combining the hatchback's retro-style body with a traditional soft top that lies exposed behind the rear seats when folded down.

We do not get any images of the car with the top in its place, but the German automaker claims that the combination of a "flatter roofline and the more upright windshield" gives the car a shape that’s "more closely aligned with the first generation Beetle Cabriolet".

The top is automatic on all models, regardless of trim, and takes a little over 10 seconds to open or close at a touch of a button, which can be used up to a speed of 30mph (48 km/h).

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Volkswagen Adds Two New Entry Level Powertrains to Beetle Range in the UK

The ever-expanding lineup of the Volkswagen Beetle gains two more engine derivatives in Britain.

This time, the German carmaker has added a 1.2-litre TSI petrol delivering 104HP / 105 PS connected to a six-speed manual gearbox (joining the DSG version of the same powerplant) and the 1.6-litre TDI diesel 104HP / 105 PS with BlueMotion Technology, which is offered with either a five-speed manual or seven-speed DSG transmissions.

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Volkswagen Sports Up the New Beetle with R-Line Packages

New Beetle customers in Europe now have the option to fit their cars with two R-Line packages that are based on the top “Sport” version, including one for the outside and the other for the interior of the retro-flavored hatch.

With the exception of the wider wheels, both R-Line kits bring purely cosmetic upgrades. The exterior package available as a standalone item that can be combined with any of the twelve available Beetle colors, while the interior package is offered only as an extension of the R-Line exterior details.

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet Revealed in…1:43 Scale by "Dealer Edition" Toy Model

Is this another future car previewed by a die-cast model? It seems so.

After a Hot Wheels toy model gave us our first look at the 2013 SRT Viper GTS a couple of months before Chrysler revealed the car at the New York Auto Show, a die-cast model of the upcoming 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible was up until recently, available for sale on the web.

The 1:43 scale version of the drop top Beetle was made by German toy carmaker Schuco Modell and sold as the "Dealer Edition 1/43 2013 VW Beetle Cabriolet Convertible" in a choice of three shades, including Light Blue, Black and White.

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Sneak Peek of Discovery Channel Shark Week's Submersible and Drivable VW Beetle Cage

In celebration of Discovery Channel's 25th Anniversary of Shark Week that kicks off this Sunday, August 12, and runs through August 16, Volkswagen engineers helped in the construction of one-of-a-kind mobile shark observation cage modeled in the shape of the iconic Beetle.

Now, only a few days before the show airs on television, VW and Discovery Channel released a new video that contains scenes from the presentation of the submersible and drivable Beetle cage at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel as well as from the show itself.

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New Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 TDI ABT Souped up by ABT Sportsline

The minds at ABT Sportsline have turned their tuning guns on the diesel version of the new Volkswagen Beetle that benefits from a power upgrade as well as the usual cosmetic and chassis improvements.

"It is really the right engine for this car," says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO and founder of ABT Sportsline. "Particularly people who use their car quite a lot will really value how economical but also torquey it is," he added.

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VW Creates Unique Beetle-Shaped Observation Cage for Discovery Channel's Shark Week [w/Video]

Since 1988, Discovery Channel has been airing a week-long series of feature television programs dedicated to sharks, usually running in July or August.

This year's edition of the Shark Week, which airs on the Discovery Channel network August 12-16, will have an automotive flavor in the sense that Volkswagen of America is sponsoring the series.

The German automaker will do a bit more than simply advertise its name and products as the company commissioned the creation of a one-of-a-kind "Volkswagen Beetle Shark Observation Cage", said to put viewers in the driver’s seat "as it cruises along the ocean floor".

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Volkswagen Expands Beetle Range with Two New Engines in the UK

Following the recent launch of the new Beetle in the UK with a 1.2-liter TFSI 104HP / 105PS linked to a seven-speed DSG transmission and a 1.4-litre 158HP / 160PS TSI to a six-speed manual gearbox, Volkswagen is enhancing the retro-flavored model's lineup with two new engines.

The new powerplants are a 2.0-liter TDI turbo diesel producing 138-horses (140PS) and a range-topping 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged petrol rated at 197hp (200PS), both available with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch DSG gearboxes.

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Volkswagen Charts its 2013MY Lineup, Announces New Beetle Convertible and Jetta Hybrid

It's that time of the year again when automakers provide details about their new model year lineups. For Volkswagen, the 2013MY brings new derivatives and changes to all vehicle ranges sold in the States except the Chrysler-based Routan minivan.

The new additions to the range are the next generation of the Beetle Convertible and a hybrid version of the Jetta.

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