The new generation Volkswagen Beetle will go on sale in Ireland in January, with just two petrol engines to start, writes Brian Byrne.
They will be 105hp and 160hp motors. Diesels will follow later in the year, with 105-140hp.
The new car retains the core shape of the Beetle, described by VW in Berlin today as 'the heart of our brand'. But it is longer, has more interior accommodation, and has a larger boot than the outgoing car.
The company has also made it 'more masculine', with a view towards broadening the appeal of the car, especially in the US where 60 percent of production will go. The front end has its own representation of the current VW 'face' in the wide narrow grille.
No Irish prices are yet available, but the entry price for the new Beetle in Germany will be €16,950.
The car will be the main feature for VW at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, and will go on sale in its first markets in October.
