VOLKSWAGEN has released details of the new Beetle, which has made its world debut in North America although the car will not go on sale in the UK until next year. The new car will go on sale in the USA in the spring powered by a choice of either a 2-litre petrol engine producing 115bhp or a 1.9-litre diesel producing 90bhp.

The front-wheel-drive Beetle is not an update of the original but a completely new and modern car. Standard features include air conditioning, a six-speaker stereo with CD control capability and central locking.