The VW Beetle is more than a car — it’s a cultural icon. We celebrate its journey from a singular-looking newcomer to one of America’s favorite fun-to-drive coupes.

It was 1949 and the U.S. was puzzled. What, exactly, was this car that Volkswagen had shipped here? That car, of course, was the Beetle, which cut a distinctive silhouette on the automotive scene. Its various iterations over the last 70 years have been no exception. And now, with the release of the Beetle Final Editions, Volkswagen is poised to bring one chapter of this storied history to a close. Saying Goodbye Throughout its history, the Beetle has been an innovative design, a counterculture symbol, starred in Hollywood films, and won races. No matter where or when it appeared, the body and design of the “Bug” has always been instantly recognizable. After the last Beetle is produced during the summer of 2019, it will mark the first time in over 20 years that the VW U.S. lineup hasn’t featured this iconic model. Two Cool To celebrate the heritage of the Beetle, two special models — the Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL —join the final-year lineup. Both are available in coupe and convertible body styles and feature exclusive equipment, unique décor, and heritage inspired exterior colors. Sun’s Out, Fun’s Out With a standard sunroof, the Final Edition models offer all drivers a chance to catch some rays. And the power-folding soft top on the convertible model, makes letting the outside in as easy as a push of a button. Classic Colors When it was produced in 2003, the Beetle Última Edición — which marked the worldwide end of the first-generation Beetle — came in beige and light blue. The Beetle Final Edition models echo those hues with Safari Uni and Stonewashed Blue Metallic. Enthusiasts will recognize Stonewashed Blue Metallic, which is a nod to the 1970 Jeans Bug and most recently seen on the 2016 Beetle Denim. The Safari Uni is a new twist on the Harvest Moon Beige color from the New Beetle generation. The Final Edition models will also come in Pure White, Deep Black Pearl, and Platinum Grey Metallic. And for the first time, an exclusive brown roof option will be available on the convertible, in addition to the beige and black roof.  In Shape Inside the Final Edition SE models are unique cloth and leatherette rhombus-pattern seats while SEL models feature standard diamond-stitched leather seating surfaces. All of the Lights Final Edition SEL models come equipped with Bi-Xenon® headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), LED taillights, and fog lights. Rethinking the Wheels “A new set of wheels” is more than just an expression: Both Final Edition models feature unique wheel designs. The Final Edition SE models come with 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design. On the other hand, the Final Edition SEL models sport 18-inch white aluminum-alloy wheels in a disc design, reminiscent of the Última Edición whitewall tires.  Media Frenzy Final Edition SE models feature a Composition Media infotainment unit with a 6.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity for compatible devices,1 a USB multimedia port, SiriusXM® radio with a three-month trial subscription,2 Voice Control, and Volkswagen Car-Net® App-Connect3 smartphone integration. The Final Edition SEL upgrades to a Discover Media infotainment unit, featuring navigation, Car-Net® Security & Service,4 and Guide & Inform,5 as well as Fender® Premium Audio. More Tech You’ll Love All Beetle Final Edition models offer Driver Assistance technology.6 The SE models include standard Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Traffic Alert, while SEL models add standard front and rear Park Distance Control. Performance, Of Course While the Final Edition models include a number of new touches, performance remains constant, powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TSI® engine with 174 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of the models is 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined.7 Delightful Details No corner of the Beetle Final Edition has been overlooked. Inside features the standard keyless access with push-button start,8 Safari Uni color dashpad with heritage-inspired Käferfach glovebox or “Beetle bin”, a gloss black center console, and leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with unique “Beetle” clip. Outside, stainless-steel pedal caps and a tailgate “Beetle” badge complete the look.

Across the country, more than 530,000 people are chasing the dream of a career through an apprenticeship program. These programs combine on-the-job training with classroom work to help enable tech-focused workers to graduate with in-demand skills – and often, a job offer waiting for them. The Volkswagen Apprenticeship Program began at the Chattanooga plant in 2010, training workers who graduate certified to work in any Volkswagen plant worldwide. To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we asked Ilker Subasi, the assistant manager of technical training at Volkswagen Chattanooga, to explain the history of the VW Apprenticeship program, its impact on the local community and what recent program updates mean for the program’s future. How did the Apprenticeship Program get started? Why the need? The decision to train apprentices in Chattanooga came before Volkswagen had even started building the plant. We identified that skilled maintenance technicians were scarce in the United States, especially in the Chattanooga region. And, since Volkswagen runs many successful apprenticeship programs in Germany and around the world, it made sense to bring the knowledge and capabilities to Volkswagen Chattanooga. The apprenticeship program is seen as the basis for qualifying and developing skilled workers on a long-term basis and aims to train workers to Volkswagen standards, helping to ensure  the company could fill the anticipated open positions with skilled workers. Upon graduation, the apprentices can start working in the plant immediately and are already familiar with the Volkswagen culture, expectations and technical equipment. How many applications do you get each year? How many apprentices have graduated? We have seen a steady increase of applications over the years. This year we received almost 200 applications for 24 open apprenticeship positions. The process of reviewing all applications and interviewing candidates takes about six months. Since 2013, 95 apprentices have graduated from the Mechatronics Program. Graduates receive a Volkswagen Group Academy Diploma, which certifies that they have received factory training according to global Volkswagen standards. Graduates also receive an Associate Applied Science Degree in Engineering Technologies from the local college. All graduates are also eligible to be placed in positions in the Chattanooga Plant. How large is the average class and what is a normal day like for apprentices? Each year, 24 new students, divided into two classes of 12, start the program. This creates a good learning environment and allows for ideal mentoring from the instructors. The program’s dual apprenticeship structure means learning through a combination of hands-on experiences and theory. During their semesters in the Academy, apprentices spend 80 percent of their time doing hands-on equipment training, which resembles work they would do in the Plant. The remaining 20 percent of their time is spent learning the complementing theoretical content. Additionally, students spend three semesters completing on-the-job training in different departments on the Volkswagen Chattanooga shop floor where they are introduced to the production environment, can use their acquired skills and can start building relationships within their future workplace. What concentrations does the current program offer students? Currently, the program offers Robotronics, which is a combination of robotics, troubleshooting, IT programming and maintenance. This past August, Volkswagen announced the relaunch of the Apprenticeship Program which was the most comprehensive update since the program started in 2010. What did you change? The shift in the industry and changes in technology across car manufacturing has influenced the qualifications that skilled team members need to excel in their positions. The new Robotronics apprenticeship program is a reaction to these circumstances and the new content is designed to help ensure that graduates have the right qualifications and can be prepared for the changing manufacturing environment. Program updates include a shift from mechanical to robotic training, which is becoming increasingly important in manufacturing. What benefits do graduates have entering the next phase of their careers? Are they guaranteed a job upon graduation? Graduates start their positions already familiar with the company culture, technical equipment and department environment. The apprenticeship has taught them up-to-date technical skills, which is why all graduates are guaranteed a job offer in the Plant. In addition, graduates may take part in programs called “Wanderjahre,” an international assignment opportunity to work in a different Volkswagen plant anywhere in the world for a year. This past May the High School Mechatronics Akademie held their first graduation, and 11 of those students chose to continue their training and become Volkswagen Robotronics Apprentices. Can you talk a little about the importance of this program to the Academy? The high school program at the Academy offers students, who are interested in hands-on learning and technical subjects, the opportunity to complete their last two years of high school at the Academy, working on state-of-the-art technical equipment, getting to know the Volkswagen culture and earning over 40 credit hours towards a college education. If they enjoy this learning environment and are interested in Robotronics, we hope they apply for the Volkswagen Chattanooga Robotronics Program. We fill many of our apprenticeship positions with these individuals who already bring commitment and passion to the company. Ilker Subasi, the assistant manager of technical training at Volkswagen Chattanooga How have you seen the program impact the local Chattanooga community? By offering an apprenticeship program that trains skilled workers in the technical field, Volkswagen helps support the local workforce development. The program has not only resulted in individuals starting careers in manufacturing, but has also led to other companies in the region now offering similar apprenticeship programs as a result of the success at the Volkswagen Academy. As an Apprenticeship Program graduate, how did the program affect your life and professional career? I started my own career as an apprentice at Volkswagen in Germany 20 years ago. Just like our apprentices here, I got to know the Volkswagen standards, culture and was taught valuable, professional skills in a modern, hands-on learning environment. The culture and mindset that I learned during those three years have stayed with me throughout my career at Volkswagen. Building on the content of my apprenticeship, I successfully obtained two Master’s Degrees in mechanical/electrical engineering and teaching. In 2010 I was sent to Chattanooga to design and build the dual apprenticeship program, again being able to utilize my own experience. Now, I am managing the apprenticeship program as well the technical training needs across Volkswagen Chattanooga.

Every fall, hundreds of wild custom vehicles and the creative minds behind them gather at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show in Las Vegas to show off the latest trends in car modifications on the latest models. While SEMA never fails to draw out the unusual and unexpected, the best in show often demonstrates a flair for making everyday vehicles striking – in ways that might not require access to a paint shop and years of experience. This year, some of the top aftermarket suppliers and customizers in the country chose the 2019 Jetta and the upcoming Arteon to show how cars can transform into personal expressions. Here’s an up-close look at the results. of Volkswagen enthusiast Jamie Orr has a history of cutting-edge builds, and has now taken his talents to a White Silver Jetta S with six-speed manual transmission. His plan to stand out with the Jetta was to go for understatement, but with sharp details. “I’ve been a long-time fan of the Volkswagen Jetta through the years,” he said. “The 2019 model has some really interesting and exciting design elements, which I was thrilled to try to highlight.” Several of the parts Orr chose make their debut on his car, starting with the set of 20-inch Work Emotion T5R 2P wheels, wrapped in Delinte DS8 tires. The exterior carries an ECS Tuning 3D-printed prototype body kit, including a high-rise rear spoiler. Lowered on KW Clubsport coil-overs that feature remote reservoirs and three-way adjustable damping, the aggressive stance also showcases ECS Tuning brake rotors with Brembo six-piston calipers up front and Golf R calipers/carriers at the rear. Inside, Orr installed RECARO® A8 seats and rear seats reupholstered in houndstooth-style material, complimented by a Black Forest Industries color-matched shift knob and boot, “Almost every part that has gone into the car has been developed specifically for it within about four weeks,” says Orr. “I was ecstatic to be able to collaborate on a newly released design, from a beloved car line with such great history.” of Inspired by Jetta/Golf accessories from the 1980s and 90s, Air Design USA’s Jetta SEL plays to the strong retro trend among gearheads today. Nineteen-inch TSW Hockenheim S wheels, shod with Falken Azenis FK510 tires, are a modern redesign of the 90s-era DTM-inspired Hockenheim wheel. An Air Design USA body kit with rear lip spoiler is complimented by vintage look tri-color graphics that echo onto a roof-mounted bicycle, attached with Volkswagen Accessories roof bars and upright bicycle rack. A lowered stance is achieved with EIBACH® Progressive Rate Lowering Springs, while front performance brake calipers get a coat of GLI red paint. Inside, two-tone custom cognac and black colored seating surfaces with matching door cards and steering wheel complete the retro look. “Air Design’s first styling kits were developed for the Jetta Mark 2 and Jetta Mark 3 and have been part of the Volkswagen Euro-tuning cult, with a legion of dedicated fans throughout the world,” states Mariana Lopez, PR and Social Media Manager for Air Design. “When the Jetta A7 arrived this year, we knew we had to make sure we developed a sporty styling package to be available for our customers.” of When it came to customizing Volkswagen’s upcoming flagship sedan, the tuners at H&R Special Springs didn’t see any need to tinker with the car’s striking exterior design. “The all-new Arteon is one of most exciting new vehicles to arrive on the automotive scene,” says Roland Graef, president of H&R Special Springs. “The lines on car are very pleasing, with good proportions — everyone that sees it says it looks great.” The H&R team rose to the occasion instead by lowering the body with its VTF Adjustable Lowering Springs. The stance takes a slightly more aggressive tack thank to 20-inch Rotiform BUC wheels and H&R Trak+ wheel spacers wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires, guarding newly aggressive Brembo GT six-piston Monoblock brake calipers. The sole exterior flourish comes from a set of Sticky Jewel Graphics on the lower sides. of Built to highlight the aftermarket suspension offerings from H&R Special Springs, this Jetta R-Line has been lowered via H&R Street Performance Coil Overs and Trak+ wheel spacers. Perching the car on 19 x 8.5-inch Rotiform BUC wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires has cleared the way for upgraded front performance brake calipers, color-matched to the Habanero Orange factory paint, and 13.4-in rotors. Styling comes by way of an Air Design USA body kit, including a high-rise rear spoiler and Sticky Jewel graphics. A full suite of available Volkswagen Accessories rounds out the build, including Comfort & Protection accessory MoJoMats® carpet floor mats & MuddyBuddy Trunk Liner, Bumperdillo® rear bumper protection, and pop-in sunshades. Even the steering wheel was swapped with a BAK Performance carbon-fiber and leather sport wheel with orange stitching. “The Jetta is a great car out of the box,” says Graef. “Like all of our projects, we always build vehicles that can be repeated by others and utilized by the daily driver enthusiast.” Note: Modifying vehicles can adversely affect warranty coverage & compliance with required safety & other standards

For many people, the thought of quitting a job and traveling the United States sounds like a dream. For Justin and Megan Webb, it’s a reality. Last year, the Tennessee couple decided they had nothing to lose by pursuing a passion. They sold almost everything they had, donated what they could, and kept only a box each of sentimental belongings. They then traveled to Boise, Idaho, where they picked up the vehicle they would live in and drive across the country—a 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia. When the Webbs first bought the van from a collector at the beginning of 2018, it had about 89,000 miles on it. It now has 110,000 miles in the early stages of the Webb’s dream journey—to attend as many cosplay conventions as possible. Justin and Megan Webb in their Vanagon. Modifying vehicles can adversely affect warranty coverage and compliance with required safety and other standards. To people who aren’t familiar with the world of cosplay: Yes, it’s short for “costume play,” people who dress up as characters from pop culture—movies, video games, comic books, and elsewhere. It’s a way to express creativity, boast fandom and have fun, all at once. Justin describes it as the chance to celebrate Halloween every day of the year: “Cosplay is the chance to showcase your love of a show or game and step out of your skin to be someone else,” he says. The Webbs have dressed as a variety of characters at cosplay conventions and their VW bus is always a hot commodity. Decked out with magnet decals that can be peeled on and off easily, their Volkswagen van is a replica evacuation shuttle from a popular series of video games set in a post-apocalyptic future. “It’s got really cool memorabilia and people can come sit inside and check it out. People think it’s awesome,” says Justin. “The van really fits the shape of the one from the game,” says Justin. “I like the freedom the apocalypse offers to the people in the game. You step out into a wasteland with all new people surviving and building new cities. It’s all about exploration, and the van, outside of the game, offers the same thing—exploration and freedom.” The van is also equipped with solar panels, a solar shower, wood flooring and an awning that Justin has built himself. “Every spare dime went into this van. We might have lost a lot of amenities moving into it, but we gained a lot of freedom,” says Justin. While their friends were jealous of their adventure, Justin admits his family thought he and Megan were nuts, and worried about their finances. But due to the van’s cosplay theme, Justin and Megan are often invited to conventions and paid to attend. The Webbs’ updated van. Modifying vehicles can adversely affect warranty coverage and compliance with required safety and other standards. On the road, Justin and Megan enjoy all the honks and thumbs ups from other drivers, but sometimes wish getting gas could be quicker. They are often stopped by other customers asking about the van and wanting to take pictures. When Justin and Megan want to drive in peace, they simply take the magnets off. Justin and Megan plan to live in the van for a minimum of one year, visiting all 50 states, Canada and Peru. They hope the trip lasts longer though, and they plan to keep going as long as they continue to receive sponsorships. Because of Megan’s German heritage, their end goal is ultimately to take the van to Germany. They are currently in the process of learning German, to learn to read the original owner’s manual. In the meantime, Justin is most looking forward to visiting Anchorage, Alaska to see the Northern Lights, while Megan is most excited to visit all of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. “That’s what the Volkswagen bus means to us,” said Justin. “We can explore ourselves and the world that was given to us.”

Photo by Manuel Martagon, courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art At its best, modern art challenges our way of seeing the world around us. It’s that sense of innovation, of searching for new thoughts and ways of thinking, that has led Volkswagen to partner with The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 (MoMA) since 2011. Photo by Mark Cole, courtesy of MoMA PS1 Together, Volkswagen and MoMA have given life to an array of museum exhibitions, educational opportunities and special event programming over the past seven years. Volkswagen became lead sponsor of MoMA Education in 2015, supporting efforts to significantly expand the museum’s digital education efforts, including free online courses and downloadable resources to reach a global audience. In addition to digital learning, Volkswagen also sponsors a variety of onsite educational offerings at MoMA that target various audiences, including teens, families, teachers and those with disabilities. “VW is the perfect partner for MoMA’s educational programs, as we both embrace an experimental, research-based, global-minded approach to our work,” says Wendy Woon, the Edward John Noble Foundation Deputy Director for Education at MoMA. “We believe art can be a catalyst for critical reflection that opens new perspectives and exchanges. Experiences with art generate innovation and creativity, and VW has enabled us to bring art into the lives of so many people of all ages and abilities, locally, nationally and globally.” In addition to supporting a breadth of education programs for artists of all ages and skill levels, both in-person and online, Volkswagen also funds programming at MoMA PS1 in Queens, N.Y. MoMA PS1 is one of the largest non-profit contemporary art centers in the world and functions as a living, breathing, contemporary art-environment for artists and the public. As part of the MoMA PS1 programming, Volkswagen sponsors the VW Fellows Program, a year-long fellowship for aspiring young arts professionals who are placed across MoMA PS1 departments and work alongside curators and staff to address the daily needs of the museum. Left photo by Kirsten Schroeder; right photo by Manuel Martagon, both courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art Volkswagen also supports the ongoing, acclaimed VW Sunday Sessions performance program, presented in MoMA PS1’s VW Dome. The event series spotlights art in real time through weekly dance, music, film, and performance events that give artists and the public a venue for of-the-moment creativity. “Our partnership with MoMA not only reflects the company’s commitment to culture and the arts, but allows us to support incredible educational and performance programming that impact visitors to MoMA and MoMA PS1 from around the world,” said David Geanacopoulos, Senior Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Public Policy of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. In the coming months, we will further examine the MoMA and Volkswagen partnership, spotlight specific programs, and hear from MoMA learners who are benefitting from Volkswagen’s sponsorship. To learn more about the MoMA exhibitions and educational programming, click here.