ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996                TAG: 9606200033
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6    EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOHN GRIESSMAYER 

A NEW BEETLE?

Tired of waiting for that special car to replace your beloved Beetle? You shouldn't have to wait too much longer.

An updated version of the "most loved car in the world" - a Bug for the '90s - could be available as soon as next year.

Volkswagen of America, which has kept pretty quiet about the specifics of the "new Beetle," has indicated that the car will indeed be produced, possibly by the summer of 1997.

This new Beetle, tentatively called the Concept One, will have a body shape reminiscent of its ancestors from the 1960s and 1970s but will include safety features and creature comforts that should make it more appealing to modern drivers.

The engine, for instance, will be located up front, rather than in the rear, according to Volkswagen of America. It also will have front-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, and dual air bags. A convertible version will be available.

But Volkswagen doesn't yet have an answer to the one question on everyone's mind: How many college kids can cram into one?

LENGTH: Short :   33 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: color photo of car