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New Beetle

1998

Introduction:

The 'New Beetle' was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1996, and two years later, at the January 1998 Detroit Motor Show, the New Beetle was unveiled and went on sale in the USA that month. The American motoring press named the New Beetle 'North American Car of the Year'. The 'New Beetle' went on sale in mainland Europe from November 1998. The reaction to the car in the UK was so great, it was decided to import 900 left-hand drive versions. These began arriving at the end of April 1999, and were followed in January 2000 with the first right-hand drive versions. August 2000 saw the first New Beetle 1.6-litre models arrive in the UK, while in mid-2001 the 1.8T joined the range. The first diesel Beetle, the 1.9-litre TDI was added in 2002, along with a base 1.4-litre.

Specification:

Name:

Beetle

Body style:

Coupe

Trims:

Number of doors:

2

Drive train:

Front-wheel drive

Fuel type:

Petrol, Diesel

Fuel type:

Petrol, Diesel

Related models:

Volkswagen Golf Mk IV, Bora, Audi A3, TT, SEAT Leon, Toledo, Skoda Octavia

Places and organisations:

Puebla, Mexico

Related events:

  • New Beetle facelift
  • Concept 1 Beetle revealed
  • Volkswagen Group expands production in Mexico
  • Golf Estate Mk III
  • Jetta Mk V
  • New Beetle Cabriolet goes into production
  • New Beetle starts production in Mexico
  • Jetta Mk VI
  • 21st Century Beetle
  • Golf Estate Mk VI
  • Golf Estate Mk IV
  • New Beetle Cabriolet
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