The Volkswagen Beetle R Line

 

 

In the pursuit of beauty, some of us are willing to pay any amount of money. From liquid gold botox (I’ve seen x-rays of such patients … gives new perspective on what it’s like to be Iron Man) to tongue piercing and individualized, elaborate tattoos, we constantly seek ways to make us look and feel good about ourselves. The same applies to our rides … stripes, LEDs, neons, body kits …. they all serve to conjure an image of artistic taste (and in some cases, some degree of practical use)

 

 

And since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, let’s just agree that we may not always agree with the guy next door’s tastes. But one thing we do agree is that if VW releases its very own after market parts, it should generally look good and not like a can of over cooked beans. Knowing full well that there’s a load of people out there who’s just ready to say “Shut up! Take my money” for dress-me-ups kits, VW has just introduced the Beetle R Line.

 

 

Now, as I may have mentioned it before in the Passat CC R Line article (HERE), the R Line is somewhat of a conundrum for Malaysians. We all know that a car, regardless of its manufacturer background that comes with an “R” badge is meant to be Raped and Ravished hence they’re usually produced with as much Rawness as one can have while rewarding its drivers with such an experience, they would have invented the word “car-gasm” for the Oxford Dictionary. For us, Volkswagen Group Malaysia has introduced the Golf R, Scirocco R and the Passat CC R-Line; all 3 of which are sub 6-seconds century cars and so everyone naturally assumes that the R-line = R. Not quite because the R Lines are basically trim upgrades …. offered to further differentiate its base/standard models from the highest spec-ed ones. The Passat CC R-Line happens to be sporting a more powerful engine but the engine remains stock.

 

 

 

 

Coming back to the Beetle R Line, driving one of these will surely set you apart from the rest of the new Beetle owners. Its sportier exterior has the following differences:

 

 

• redesigned front bumpers with independent black grained air inlets and chrome surrounds for the directional indicators (check out the pictures below comparing with a 2.0L model)

 

 

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• diffuser at the rear

 

 

 

• special body side panels and door mirror housings in body colour
• R-Line logos on the front body beneath the A-pillars
• 18-inch “Twister” alloy wheels
• machine-polished 19-inch “Tornado” alloy wheels may be selected as an option in black or white with 235/40 tyres

 

 

 

 

Interior wise, the package includes:

 

 

• sport seat system with seats upholstered with an active-breathing fabric in “Kyalami” design
• front head restraints with R-Line badge
• leather-trimmed sport steering wheel, the gear shift lever boot and the handbrake grip with decorative seams in “Art Grey”
• decorative inlays in “Dark Vanadium”

 

 

Optional: If leather is your thing, you should spec it with  “Vienna” black leather with R-Line badges on the head restraints as well as on the door sill plates and the leather-trimmed sport steering wheel. That should satisfy any leather fetish you might have …. just make sure you stock up on leather moisturizer and conditioner

 

 

Time to save up so that when that new Beetle you ordered arrives early next year, the parts will be here, waiting to be fitted to its new housing. After all, what’s a little bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner in exchange for some Bug exclusivity?