大众甲壳虫的前世今生

重获新生：1998—2010年

    为了答谢消费者的热情需求，大众公司又于1998年推出了新款甲壳虫（也就是第二代甲壳虫）。它的概念车在1994年的底特律车展上展出，因其复古风而深受消费者喜爱。新甲壳虫的底价为15,200美元。那高高拱起的车顶、倾斜的大灯以及亲民的个性，都让老甲壳虫的车迷们兴奋不已。不过这种怀旧更多的只是种姿态，新甲壳虫只是在外观上与老甲壳虫相似，内在却截然不同。新甲壳虫实际上是基于大众高尔夫平台，而且它是一款前驱车。这种旧瓶装新酒的做法必然意味着在某些方面要做出一些妥协，比如驾驶位置与众不同，以及保养零件稀少等。

    全新甲壳虫甫一面世就大受欢迎。它在1999年售出了83,000多台。不过相当多的买主都是年轻女性，导致甲壳虫成了著名的“二奶车”。（新甲壳虫的方向盘后面还安了一个花瓶，或许这也是它吸引年轻女性的原因之一）但这并不妨碍它取得巨大的成功。在量产的这13年里，新甲壳虫在美国卖出了60万台（包括硬顶版和敞篷版），在全球卖出了120万台。

The New Beetle: 1998-2010

    Bowing to popular demand, VW introduced the New Beetle, based on a crowd-pleasing retro-themed concept car that was unveiled at the 1994 Detroit Auto Show. Base price was $15,200. The high arched roofline, sloping headlights, and approachable personality thrilled old Beetle fans. But the similarities were more nostalgic than real, since the New Beetle was based on a modern Golf platform and was powered by an engine in the front. The combination of old body style and new platform necessitated compromises, such as an unusual driving position and poor access to maintenance items.

    The New Beetle was a hit right from the start. More than 83,000 were sold in 1999. A surprising number of buyers were young women, leading the Beetle to become known as a "chick car." (A dash-mounted bud vase may have had something to do with it.) But that didn't stop it from becoming a popular success during its production run with just under 600,000 units (both hardtop and convertible) sold in the U.S., and about 1.2 million worldwide, during its 13-year life.