What type of front suspension did the Super Beetle introduce?

The Super Beetle introduced MacPherson strut front suspension. Volkswagen used this redesigned front axle on the 1302, launched in 1970, replacing the traditional Beetle front-end arrangement with a more modern layout.

MacPherson struts combine the spring, damper and steering pivot into a compact assembly. That freed up space at the front of the car, allowing Volkswagen to enlarge the Super Beetle’s front luggage compartment and move the spare wheel into a flatter, horizontal position.

The Super Beetle still retained the Beetle’s rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive identity, so the suspension change did not turn it into a conventional front-wheel-drive car. It also was not a torsion-beam system: earlier Beetles used torsion-bar suspension, while the Super Beetle’s front end used MacPherson struts with wishbones and a stabilizer. The 1303 replaced the 1302 in 1972 and added a curved windshield, but kept the same basic front-suspension concept.