interior des! From previous page More modern design cle: ments include ter in the center dash area protrude toward the dn- comfortable front bucket seats with optional scat swith five temperature .Huminaced switches tor he: addights, power win- dlaws and deer locks, and height adjustable front and tear head restraints. Phe front seats tit up and forward ta Miow passengers to enter the rear seat. However, in some respects, the design of the New Beede’s The rear se ve mini- mal headroom for people “all, the trunk is Vv y small without the rear seat folded down (split folding rear seats are not available), there’s no centre arnirest or storage compart- ments (on GLS models), and the centre dash area is so clase to the manual shift lever thar it’s possible to strike the dash when groping for the shift lever. In addition, the enormous dashtop seems like wasted space in a car with minimal A year after the first New Beetle was introduced, it photo Volkswagen RETRO-STYLING includes such nestaigic features as a singie round instrument cluster with a big speedo and, of course, a small bud vase for fresh flowers. rear headroom. [ also won- dered why there are three cupholders for front passen- gers and only one for rear passengers. ti New Beetle 1.8T is a car you can both enjoy driving and stil attracts admiring glances tres: passers-by. Curiously, there's virtually nothing to distinguish the 1.8T model from the 2.0 model — net even a badge on the rear Gechtid. The only way to tell the difference is to look for the black raof spoiler whictrpops up at highway speeds. Famil Owned Since 1946 ‘Technical Da BIR ESS 7999 VW New Beetle 1 OT GLS Base price... Price as tested gn compromised for exter ior styie -deor, four-passenger coupe/hatchback ....1.8-hire, four-cylinder, turbocharged, DOHC, 20 valve 50 @ 5,800 p.m. 162 @ 2,200-4,200 rpm. five-speed manualfour-speed auto 2,512 mm (98.9 in.) 4,092 mm (161.2 in.) 1,725 mm (67.9 in.) 1.571 mm (59.5 in.) +. 205/5SHR-16 ity: 9.3 1/100 km (25 m.p.g.) Hwy: 7.1 1/100 km (31 mpg.) two years/40,000 km Powertrain five years/100,000 km Transmission Wheelbase .. | i L transverse front engine/front-wheel-drive | | enjoy beings seen in, A year pass after the first New Beetle was Curiously, there’s virtually introduced, it still attracts nothing to distinguish the admiring glances from 1.8T model from the 2.0 model — nor even a badge on the rear decklid. The only way to tell the difference is to look for the black roof spoiler ch pops up at highway Standard equipment on 1.8T GiS models includes 5R-16 inch tir spoiler, electronic dit rential lock, AM/FM /c sette with six speakers, air conditioning, anti-theft alarms, central power door locking with remote, cruis control, front ags, height- able fronts ats, esCOping steering w heel, I, digital clock and out- side temperature display, wo 12V power cutlets inside and one 12V outlet in the trunk. To these features, [.8T GLX models add perforated Jeather upholstery, alloy wheels with anti-theit wheel locks, power glass sunroof with sunshade, centre arm- rest/storage compartment, heated windshield washer nozzles, heared front seats, and leather-wrapped stecring wheel, shift knob and hand- brake cover. New Beetles come with a two-year /40,000-kilometre basic warranty and a five- year/100,000-km powertrain warranty. You can find out more about the New Beetle 1.8T on the Web at . EWS photo Mika \Waketle:d