VOLKSWAGEN will sell left-hand-drive versions of its new-generation Beetle model in Britain in a bid to satisfy surging demand. Up to 2,000 examples of the smash-hit retro car are to be made available to customers who don't want to wait 12 months for supplies of right-hand-drive cars to start reaching UK showrooms.

'We have more than 3,000 orders placed at our dealers, all backed by deposits of up to £1,000,' VW GB marketing chief Chris Craft said. 'Another 4,000 serious enquiries have been lodged on our special hot-line. As each of our outlets will have only about six Beetles to offer customers, I'm not expecting to meet any problems with sales - the headache comes with trying to satisfy a much bigger demand than we ever dared expect.'

The company is holding 100,000 orders for the car from customers in Germany, plus a further 50,000 in other European markets. VW's own staff have placed a further 25,000 orders.