Anyone seen the 2012 VW Beetle yet?

[CR-Z Canadian]

I think its a sharp looking redesign of the "new beetle" concept 0 very 911-ish:


I know that they are just coming out, and have not hit dealerships in our area yet, but I wondered if you've seen one in person yet, or even driven one, what your impressions are?

To me, it looks great (from some angles anyway), and proves the beauty and longevity of Ferdiand Porsche's original VW design cues. Not to glorify the regime that developed it, but I doubt anything that Mommar Ghadaffi or Saddam Hussein created, will still be relevant in 70 years!

The 2.0 litre turbo sounds like the way to go, although I can't understand why it only develops 200 HP and 207 torques. Still, I suppose that's plenty to shove the little car along.

[TehCheeze]

Looks way better than before i think they are maybe trying to get away from the "girl car" Image?

[chaos]

I think it has a very British look.

But, I am just not a Beetle fan.

[JCRZ]

I dig it

[JCRZ]

It's a tiny turbo that's why it only develops 200hp, it's probably a K03

[TotallyCRZ]

It's moving more towards the shape of Porsche's just from the profile view.

Don't you agree?

I still wouldn't buy it. I'm in love with my new CR Z. the Beetle always been a girl's car, and I think it'll stay one too...

In response to @JCRZ below, eeee, thats before my time

[VTEC Mini]

I hope they work on reliability. Everyone I know that owns one has had constant trouble with them.

[JCRZ]

The beetle became a girls car when it was remade in the late 90's. Before that it was a total guys car, alot of old skool dudes still live and breath them, my dad for example has had a few 69's some full out drag cars and others just restored and daily driven.

[aerodan]

IMHO nothing from VW has approached the look and feel of the VR6 Corrado... I miss that car, had a G60 and a VR6... The look (almost) stands up even today - and the performance out of that V6, yum.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/389455..._vr6_top_gear/

[Widget]

Originally Posted by TotallyCRZ

It's moving more towards the shape of Porsche's just from the profile view.

Don't you agree?

I still wouldn't buy it. I'm in love with my new CR Z. the Beetle always been a girl's car, and I think it'll stay one too...

In response to @JCRZ below, eeee, thats before my time

Clearly you know nothing about Beetles pre-90s.

Personally, I'm thinking they're playing off everyone else's "modernize the old design," and it looks very similar to an old-school punch buggy.
In a video, they said that the TDI version would have 243hp - probably a strong contender against the GTI at that point?