Drawing from the original design without copying it directly (not to mention the completely unrelated motor location), the car, instead, highlighted certain visual cues like the arched roof, headlamps, and flared fenders, to cause consumers to associate rather than remember outright the first version.
The car made its own impact in the marketplace despite to be offered for as long as the original, and never the long term sales success of its namesake. How? The New Beetle ushered in the present era of retro-styled autos: the PT Cruiser, HHR, and maybe even the current Mustang owe their retro design cues to the introduction
Our take? Never as universally appealing as the original, the rumors of a new New Beetle based upon the rear drive Up! however...
via Los Angeles Times