IN 40 YEARS OF experience with the Volkswagen Beetle, I have heard them called 'small', 'little', 'tiny', 'cute', 'sweet', 'fun', 'exciting', 'comical' and 'ridiculous'.
But 'big' and 'luxury' are two words I have never connected with the 'People's Car', a motoring icon whose 21 million global production run over 70 years is expected to end in Puebla, Mexico, this month. The New Beetle is a lot more butch than the Love Bug and the New Beetle 1.8 Turbo Sports Edition, our test car, Son of Herbie, ripples with testosterone.
You can see the family resemblance, but the Disney delight's body has been in the gym; the 1.8 Turbo Sports Edition is larger, longer and wider, and configured to carry adults in full-scale comfort.
The Sports Edition offers extra signal lamps and a low-slung front grille (a Beetle with a grille?) and sparkling alloy wheels. Look out, too, for the CD-changer in the central console, inside, where there is a surprise. As you settle into the ultra-recaro seat, with its high-grade leather upholstery in two shades, you are immediately struck by the spaciousness of the cabin. The fascia is massive: small children could play on it if the car was parked. Suddenly, the word 'big' applies.
Headroom is excellent, and I can crank myself even lower with a handy lever. I set my backrest and then tweak the lumbar support to make it perfect, then lift the headrest to nestle at the back of my cranium. I add 'comfort' and 'luxury' to my Beetle dictionary.
The recaro-like (but much fancier) seat back has lateral hold cushions that hug my ribs lovingly. Even the seat squabs have lateral-hold cushions on the sides. With my seat belt fastened, left foot on the large, bare-metal dead-pedal, and in the secure embrace of all those cushions, I am ready for an exciting ride.