They seriously are trying to make the new beatle resemble the lines of a 911 in order to encourage more males to buy the pos. Do a search on youtube, you cannot deny the similarities.

 

What an ugly car. IMO, it's too much of a departure from the shape that made it famous and is a step back wards in the beetle design. I see what you mean about the butchered shape though.

 

Looks a little more Audi tt to me...

 

I think the New Beetle was the step back--the "new" New Beetle seems to have a more similar shape to the classic model than the original New Beetle did, which was comically round on the top.

 

This new model is closer (in shape) to Ferdinand's original. It should have a rear engine too.

 

Having grown up when both the original Beetle and 356-era Porsche were on the road together, I don't think there's anything wrong with a little more familial resemblance. This new-new-beetle looks more like what most of us figured the old-new-beetle would look like, ie more homage and less abstractly evocative. But at this point I don't think it's going to sell any better to guys...or to anyone for that matter. Between the Mini (with the new Countryman) and the soon-to-arrive Fiat Cinquecento, I don't think anyone's going to be paying much attention to the warmed-over beetle.

 

I think the '12 Beetle will have very poor sales based on initial consumer response.

 

But hey, Oprah likes it.

 

A lot of people said that ^ about the Panamera, too.

 

To me it looks like it has a longer wheelbase... Hmm, maybe its viral.

 

Looks like someone from the PT Cruiser design team had a hand in the design. LOL

 

and some good looking ones:

 

Both the original Beetle and 356/911 are Porsche designs, so who cares.

 

I'm guessing the cabriolet version will look like the 997 Speedster!

 

Panamera sales aren't exactly stellar. That's probably the same number of Beetles VW will be able to sell, which ain't no where near enough.