A fond farewell to an automotive industry icon

This review first appeared in the July 2019 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – These might be the saddest two words ever incorporated into a motor vehicle model name: Final Edition.

But that's exactly what I saw when I recently took delivery of a 2019 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 2.0T Final Edition SEL.

Alas, it's true.  Production of the iconic Beetle is coming to an end.  And as auto history goes, this is big.

The lineage of the Beetle dates back to the 1930s, and yes, it was a major component of a concept developed by Adolf Hitler, who wanted cheap, basic transportation for citizens to use on the network of new roadways being constructed in Germany.

A team led by engineer Ferdinand Porsche ultimately came up with the basic design, and simply put, the Beetle went on to become the most-produced motor vehicle off a single platform in automotive history.

Sigh, no more.

Happily, Volkswagen opted to pay tribute to this storied history with the 2019 Final Edition droptop.

And for those of you who remember Beetles of long ago, my Final Edition tester was light years removed from those early arrivals.

For starters, my loaded version had a bottom line of nearly $31,000 on the sticker, and special features included LED lighting, diamond-stitched leather seating surfaces, rain-sensing wipers, stainless steel pedals and super-fancy 18-inch alloy wheels.

My ride was "Stonewashed Blue," a nod to the 1970 Jeans Bug and most recently seen on the 2016 Beetle Denim.

Nostalgia all around?  You bet.

Oh, and it drove like a dream too.  The 2-liter turbo-4 engine rated at 174 horsepower moved the little bug around with authority.  It cornered like a champ, and the four-wheel independent suspension was rock-solid in all conditions.

Fuel mileage was good at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

A push of a button dropped the soft top into position, and from there, driving was a pleasure ride that took me back years.  Neighbors and passersby seeing me piloting a Beetle under the California sun broke into big grins and offered up enthusiastic waves, all unprompted.

And why not?  This was a vehicle made to have fun in the sun, and I'm suspecting that some of those smiling faces were remembering their own experiences in a Beetle ... on the beach ... up and down the Pacific Coast Highway ... or maybe a jaunt in the Sierra Nevada.

So, if you can get your hands on one of these Final Edition models for the fun, or maybe the memories, have at it.  The Beetle might never return, but you can have your own piece of history in your garage.