Global unveils of cars you already know about with their roofs removed seldom create much extra excitement, so we weren’t expecting much from the new VW Beetle Cabriolet, until we clapped eyes on the 50s special edition that was promoted as part of its launch at the LA auto show.
Sporting 1950s Beetle era convex chrome hubcaps with black-painted outer sections made a real difference to the vibe of the new model, alongside the monochrome black paint job, chrome door mirrors, plus beige (or black) leather interior. After all, if you’re going to bother doing retro, you might as well hit all the nostalgia buttons hard, and those chrome caps are certainly among the best for that (see old wheel image for reference).
The fact it’s a trim you can actually buy for a premium of £600 over the equivalent 1.4 TSI petrol Sport version (at £24,655 in the UK), rather than just remaining a showcar touch, makes it even better. MkII of the new Beetle is growing on us as a result, but avoid the 60s and 70s versions, which are more expensive and whose wheels and paint jobs aren’t as stand-out.
By Guy Bird
