Newest New Old Beetle

    Here it is, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. This new installment to the VW lineup replaces the New Beetle that was squashed sometime in 2008. VW has updated may features of the car, including a chopped roof design and slightly more powerful engine options.
    It is still based off of the Golf chassis, so it has a very similar stance to other models we have seen from VW. What is truly a disappointment about this car, then, is that it took nearly 4 years to reintroduce a car that basically hasn't changed.
    When I visited the New York Auto Show in April, I inspected the 2012 Beetle with a fine tooth comb. It just hasn't changed in the way true enthusiasts expected. Even the original Beetle of the late 1930s possessed  a sense of light hearted fun, while still being a practical grocery getter. The new design is sportier, sure, but the 2012 VW Beetle fails to channel the lightness and utility of the original.
    Solution: As many automakers are going retro and reintroducing new old models, such as the Charger below, they just aren't following the rules. The idea behind retro design should cater to the needs of the orignal landscape, while updating and transplanting modern technology. The 2012 Beetle should have come out in 2009, and this year VW should have released a true icon that really captures the essence of the original hippie hauler.