International Auto Show Review

摘要

The highlight of this year's Detroit show was undoubtedly the new Volkswagen Beetle. Similar in shape, but radically different in concept to the original, the new Beetle goes on sale in the US, Canada and Mexico in March. Europe will get the car either in the autumn or early next year, dependent on production levels at the car's Mexican production line. Based on the platform of the Audi A3 and Mk IV Golf, the Beetle gets familiar transverse mounted, front-drive engines and gearboxes from the Golf and A3. The Golfs 2.0-litre 116 ps (85 kW) petrol and 1.9-litre 91 ps (67 kW) turbo-diesel will be available at launch, with the 1.8-litre 152 ps (111kW) turbocharged 20-valve petrol unit following later this year. Volkswagen chairman, Dr Ferdinand Piech, claimed VW group would be investing $24 billion over the next five years to increase its vehicle range from 41 to 51 vehicles by the end of the decade, while striving to build on the virtues of quality and innovation.