Volkswagen Beetle: Squeezing a Classic Shape for New Lines - New York Times (blog)

After a tightly controlled introductory campaign, in which not even Oprah Winfrey could reveal more than its silhouette for a giveaway on her daytime TV show, the new Volkswagen Beetle was unveiled in lower Manhattan on Monday morning.

The car is 6 inches longer than its predecessor and 3.3 inches wider, affecting a more sporting, purposeful stance. Up front, consumers can choose from three engines: a base 2.5-liter 4 cylinder producing 170 horsepower, a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline power plant generating 200 horsepower and a 2-liter turbodiesel with 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The diesel is rated at 29 m.p.g. in urban driving and 40 m.p.g. on the highway.

On Monday, Volkswagen executives emphasized the redesigned Beetle's more aggressive aesthetics. Klaus Bischoff, the car's designer, described the redesign as "more power than flower."