The Volkswagen Beetle is the people's car and VW has revealed it to as many people as possible with joint launches in Shanghai, New York and Berlin.
Seventy-three years after the original Beetle was unveiled, the new car is longer, wider and lower than the outgoing model. There is also a longer wheelbase for more passenger room, while the roofline has been extended back to create more rear headroom to make the Beetle more practical.
The interior of the new Beetle is more retro than before, with coloured panels and a glovebox that take their cues from the original model's. VW says there will be three trim levels for the car, covering Beetle, Design and Sport.
Engine choice for Irish buyers will include a 105hp 1.6-litre turbodiesel. The diesel will come with stop-start and battery regeneration to offer 4.3 litres/100km (65.7mpg) average consumption and Band A carbon dioxide emissions of 112g/km.
Petrol engines are taken care of by a 1.2-litre TSI, 1.4-litre TSI with 160hp and a 200hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Volkswagen has yet to confirm whether all engines will be marketed in Ireland. The 200hp petrol engine will come with an electronic differential lock as used in the Golf GTI.
Sales of the new VW Beetle will start early in 2012, and prices and specifications will be confirmed closer to then.