Mexican Beetle

Engine
Unlike the Brazilian Beetle, the Mexican Beetle evolved throughout the production.


 * 1988: Electric Ignition was added
 * 1993: Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) was added as well as Hydraulic Valve Lifters and a spin-on oil filter.

The market
Many Mexican Beetle ended in the streets of Mexico City, where they were used as Taxis. This also made Volkswagen stop the production of Beetles in Mexico as the cars did not met the emission standards in Mexico City. Add to this that the Beetle Taxicab was outlawed because of increase of crimes. Only 4-doors cars can now be used as taxicabs in Mexico City.

Most Mexican Beetles were sold in Mexico. But some of there cars made it in the United States and Europe until 2003. Cars for Europe were just imported. The import in the United States was much harder.

Beetles manufactured after 1978 can not be registered in the United States. In deed the South American Beetles (Mexican and Brazilian) do not meet the US DOT regulations on safety. They can not be imported legaly. But many Mexican Bugs made it in the United States on pre-1978 US registered Type 1 pans. The vehicle was a latter model Mexican car but was registered at the DMV as being manufactured in Germany before 1978 since the pan is from a legal imported car.

The last Beetle was produced on July 30, 2003 in Puebla, Mexico. The car (# 21,529,464 was shipped back to the Volkswagen Museum in Wolksburg, Germany. this car was the last of the final batch of the Beetle. 3 000 Ultima Edicon Beetle made up this final Batch. This batch was made with a mix of older Beetle designs such as the whitewall tires, and older fenders. As for the paint, the choice came from the [| New Beetle] colors: Aquarius Blue or Harvestmoon beige. This made the link with the new generation.