The people’s car – generically, Volkswagen in German – is almost as old as the automobile, and the type was familiar in Germany long before the advent of the Volkswagen. Usually these “popular” cars were minimal cars, though size and simplicity did not necessarily bring them within the reach of the ordinary man in the street. Henry Ford did build a successful universal car, to sell at a low price, but his Model T with its 2.9…showed first 75 words of 1144 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1144 total…of syncro four-wheel-drive to come). Initially, the new Beetle was to be offered with the direct fuel injection turbo-diesel o petrol engines. The former was expected to give it a top speed of around 180 km/h (112 mph).(Delerenzo) It is safe to predict that sales will never match the staggering Beetle totals, but there is little doubt that its successor will secure a positive place in the markets from 1998 and on into the 21st century.