Anybody else with an A5 (2012+) Beetle?
 

https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...2e&oe=59DD04B1

I have a 2017 Beetle, and I'm planning the future mods for this car, looking for ideas beyond careful driving, inflating up, etc. I'm looking for subtle things that help, so no boat tails, etc LOL

Looking first at aero mods. Air dam and side skirts seems obvious, but I'm not sure if the A5 would benefit from a roof spoiler the way the classic Beetle or 98-10 New Beetle would. It has the stock turbo spoiler, and from what I'm reading it does actually help aero. Also considering fender vents to clean up those small vacuum areas.

With the intercooler and what not, I'm not sure grille blocking is very safe, but I'm looking into that.

Next, I'm looking into setting up a system where the alternator is electrically disabled until it hits a certain voltage. I'd add flexible solar panels to keep above that voltage as much as possible, but still have an alternator that can keep it going at night and under heavier electrical loads. I'm not quite sure what voltage to cut off at and what to use to accomplish that.

Also wondering if it would be worth it to open up the exhaust and intake.

Hopefully somebody else will have worked with one of these cars, but if not I'll have to blaze a trail :)

I haven't seen any of the newer Beetles on the site, but all the normal aeromods will work for you.

Do you have a Scangauge or other OBDII gauge where you could watch intake temperatures? With that you could start blocking some of your front grill off and adjust as necessary.

Using Trip Computer
 

I don't have a Scangauge, as I usually use my trip computer. How about the Bluetooth OBD II interfaces? Will the torque app give me the intake temp?

That's the coolest modern beetle I've ever seen.

Normally they come in goofy-green or sundried-lemon.

Nice work with the stripes. Fuel economy doesn't matter now :eek:

For economy mods, I've heard that chip-tuning works really well on those.

Wrong year but close, maybe one of those rear spoilers at the lower base of the rear window would help.

VWVortex.com - Rear roof spoiler - has anyone seen any of these?
http://www.mindspring.com/~miyakawa/images/nbaero.jpg

Like this one below.

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Volkswagen Beetle OEM Factory Style Spoiler PRIMED
http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/...n.jpg~original

Right year?

http://rahulbhatt.net/2012/2012-vw-beetle-review
http://roa.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/14/47/...eetle-2-lg.jpg

Oh man, I love the "Herbie" look. Totally diggin'it. :thumbup:

WOW your Beetle is much nicer then my 2001 mk4. Other then the bad areo of my car I hate the fact VW used so much cheap plastic on the A4 cars.

I found this when I was looking for something else.

So, here:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...6-12-58-10.png
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...17-1-47-18.png

My 3D modelling skills are rudimental. I made some shapes I can sort of moosh together with an off-the-shelf car model. Without all the finessing and filleting you might be able to imagine.

The one reproduces a similar boat tail on an older Beetle I did as part of a series:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...four-tails.jpg

The other is a maximal Kammback.

As you can see, they did fix the aero a bit by lowering the roof, but all those blisters still make the A5 Beetle pretty poor in the drag department. AT 0.37 cd, you've got a lot of room to improve.

I've always wanted to try making rear wheel covers for that platform. Should be seriously easy, and will have a big effect considering those rear fenders are way out there in the wind.

Also wonder if fencing in the air going over the roof will be of any help in curbing turbulence?

Chances are your car already has a 'smart' alternator, so there's no need to mod it, it already does that. Charging off the mains may give you a good efficiency boost (works great on my Fiat & Renault).