VW reveals new Beetle in Shanghai

The VW Beetle is back! Exactly 73 years after the original was first launched, Volkswagen is readying the third incarnation of its famous family car.

With UK order books opening in summer, the new Beetle looks distinctly more macho than its predecessor, coming with a choice of turbocharged 1.2, 1.4 and 2.0-litre petrol engines and a 1.6-litre turbodiesel.

Equipped with the company's BlueMotion efficiency technology, the lone diesel is estimated to return 65.7mpg and emit just 112g /km of C02.

All of the engines will be available with VW’s DSG seven speed automatic gearbox as an option.

The Beetle has also grown - and is now 152mm longer and 84mm wider than before. All of which should make the cabin much more spacious, especially for rear passengers.

At the rear, the boot has grown from 209 to 310 litres - close to double that of a MINI One.

Volkswagen claims the new car will be fun to drive with the range topping 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol featuring an electronic differential lock to improve traction in tight bends.

Interior quality is also expected to be much improved, with a much more driver focused cabin, and the flower vase of the previous car replaced by a set of ancillary dials mounted in the centre of the main console. The Beetle will sit beneath the equivalent Golf in VW’s line-up ranging from £14,000 to over £22.000.