Volkswagen Beetle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:35, 23 March 2005

Revision as of 13:31, 29 March 2005

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{| align=right

|[[image:volkswagen.beetle.new.750pix.jpg|thumb|250px|right|2000 VW New Beetle]]

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|[[image:volkswagen.beetle.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|VW Beetle with engine exposed]]

|}

At the 1994 [[North American International Auto Show]], Volkswagen unveiled the [[J Mays]]-penned "Concept 1", a concept car with futuristic styling deliberately reminiscent of the original Beetle's rounded shape. Strong public reaction convinced the company to move the car into production, and in 1998 Volkswagen launched the New Beetle. The New Beetle is related to the original only in name and appearance: under the hood, it is a modern car in every way, based on the [[Volkswagen A platform]]. TheIn enginestark iscontrast mountedto inthe original, the forntInsurance andInstitute watercooledof asHighway opposedSafety togave the original'sNew backmounted,Beetle aircooledamong enginethe best safety ratings in its class at the time of its launch.

In stark contrast to the original, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety put the New Beetle among the best safety ratings in its class at the time of its launch.

Marketing campaigns have enhanced the continued goodwill towards the original, and helped the new model to inherit it. The [[Volkswagen New Beetle]] was ''[[Motor Trend]]'''s [[Car of the Year|Import Car of the Year]] for 1999.

==Phase Out of the Original Beetle==

{| align=right

|[[image:volkswagen.beetle.arp.jpg|thumb|right|250px|VW Beetle with engine exposed]]

|-}

In [[2002]] total production of the [[VW Golf]], at 22 million units, overtook that of the Beetle. However this measure includes all four distinct generations of Golf since [[1974]].