Volkswagen will be bringing a MkII version of its New Beetle to the world in 2011, and this one is expected to be less cute and more mature -- ushering in a new element of practicality that some have criticized as sorely lacking.
As a sales winner from the get-go in 1998, the current-generation New Beetle continued to outsell the Golf in the U.S. into last year, a full decade after its introduction. As before, the New Beetle will almost certainly be based on the new sixth-generation Golf's front-drive architecture (a version based on VW's new Up platform has also been rumored). The new Golf has just gone on sale in Europe and is set to reach our shores this fall. |
The interior reportedly will lose some of its current retro-chic style to gain more functionality and storage room, while the exterior should lose a hint of roundness to become more efficient as well. Power will come from the current 170-hp, 2.5L inline-five-cylinder engine or the 2.0L diesel motor used in the Jetta TDI. A version of VW's venerable 2.0L TFSI mill, as used in the current and upcoming versions of the Golf GTI, could also find its way under the Beetle's hood as a performance version down the line.
Bottom Line: Will a move away from the Beetle's iconic shape spur sales?
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