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Volkswagen New Beetle
| Volkswagen New Beetle |
| Description: |
Strong public reaction persuaded the company to move the car into production, and in 1998 Volkswagen launched the New Beetle, designed by J Mays and Freeman Thomas at the company's California design studio. The New Beetle is related to the original only in name and appearance (including the absence of a car emblem script with the exception of the VW logo): under the hood, it is a modern car in every way, based on the Volkswagen A platform (Mark 4 Volkswagen Golf).
Still, it carried many design features related to the old Beetle: separate wings, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps and large round tail lights, as well as a high rounded roofline that provides enough headroom for tall drivers.
In stark contrast to the original, the U.S. Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the New Beetle among the best safety ratings in its class at the time of its launch.
The car was a reatively slow seller in Europe, but it was a success in the United States. There, marketing campaigns enhanced the continued goodwill towards the original, and helped the new model to inherit it. The Volkswagen New Beetle was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year [1] for 1999. A convertible version of New Beetle started production two years after launch, after many buyers had aftermarket conversions.
For the 2006 model, the exterior is slightly redesigned with bigger bumpers and is fitted with a 2.5l 150hp I5 base engine, as seen on the A5 Jetta. |
| Date: |
24.11.2006 03:06 |
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