It features a lower profile while retaining an overall shape homaging the original Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle.

A convertible version followed the hatchback for the 2013 model year, first shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2012 when it also went on sale.

[6] Head of Technical Development for VW, Frank Welsch, indicated at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show that this would be the Beetle's final generation.

[8] The final third generation Beetle (a denim blue coupe) finished production on 9 July 2019,[9] and was presented on the assembly line the next day.

The new model retains the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout of the New Beetle, while improving interior packaging with more room in the rear.

[14] A Beetle Turbo Black made an appearance at the 30th annual Wörthersee Treffen in June 2011 in Reifnitz, Austria.

The e-Bugster was a concept vehicle shown at the North American International Auto Show in January 2012; it is a battery-electric vehicle using a 85 kW (114 hp; 116 PS) motor[15] drawing from a 28.3 kW-hr lithium ion traction battery, for a range of 110 miles (180 km).

[16] Volkswagen allowed journalist Damon Lavrinc to drive the prototype and explained the powertrain components were taken from the contemporary e-Golf that shared the VW PQ35 platform, produced for the California market.

[17] In 2012, Volkswagen partnered with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to release a limited edition Beetle for the 2013 model year.

The interior features a sunburst dashboard panel that pays homage to the Fender Stratocaster, a 400 watt premium audio system with nine speakers, an LCD screen, and a 10-channel amplifier.

The new GSR comes with Volkswagen's new 2.0L turbo four cylinder, this time making an extra 10 horsepower for a total of 210 hp (157 kW).

[21] This limited edition trim level was equipped with the Gen 3 210 hp turbo four, a new front fascia and a metal dash plate finished off with 'R' badging all around.

It is a special version of the Beetle with 2 fully-wooden surfboards, an exclusive orange accent and “habanero orange” color, a houndstooth interior, real wood garnish for the dashboard, chrome mirror caps, 19-inch “Tornado”-design wheels, and Michigan license plates that read “NEW YORK CITY - BTL SRF”.

A version with red, white and blue stripes running from front to back vertically and 53s on the doors, hood and trunk, made to resemble the paint job of Herbie The Love Bug, was sold exclusively in Spain.