2012 Volkswagen Beetle to be unveiled on April 18th

2012 VW New Beetle spied testing in Europe / Copyright SB-Medien

Will be introduced on three continents

The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle has been spied undisguised and given away by Oprah, but the company has just announced plans to unveil the model on April 18th.

In a star studded event, spanning three continents, Volkswagen will introduce the Beetle in Shanghai, Berlin and New York City. To maximize exposure, the German brand has teamed up with MTV to have The Black Eyed Peas perform in New York and 2manydjs in Berlin.

As for the car itself, the 2012 Beetle will have Ragster-inspired styling with a dual exhaust system and 19-inch alloy wheels. While the exterior design will be relatively familiar, the interior will be dramatically improved thanks to higher quality materials, an upgraded infotainment system, and additional passenger room.

Full details will be announced two weeks from today, but the redesigned Beetle is slated to arrive at U.S. dealerships later this fall.

Source: VW

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VOLKSWAGEN WORD DEBUT OF 21ST CENTURY BEETLE WITH GLOBAL SERIES OF EVENTS ON THREE CONTINENTS

Launch of Partnership with MTV World Stage

Herndon, VA - On April 18th, Volkswagen will celebrate the global reveal of the 21st Century Beetle, marking a new chapter in the iconic vehicle's history. The Beetle will be revealed to the public in a spectacular world debut on three continents. The reveal will begin in Shanghai, China with an exclusive MTV Sound System celebration hosted by MTV VJ's, followed by MTV World Stage events in Berlin and New York City.

At the MTV World Stage event in New York City, presented by the 21st Century Beetle, The Black Eyed Peas will perform their most popular hits, including material from their latest album, "The Beginning." At the Berlin MTV World Stage event, Belgian duo 2manydjs will headline and perform a DJ set at the city's E-Werk space. The New York performance will be streamed live on www.WorldStage.MTV.com (except in the UK), with highlights later broadcast on MTV networks around the world, making it the most widely distributed World Stage event to date. Highlights from both the New York and Berlin events will also be available online.

"The Beetle is an icon of the automotive world, just like MTV is an icon of the music world. In the context of this marketing alliance, we are taking the new Volkswagen directly to customers and fans of the Volkswagen brand - and we are doing it globally," states Luca de Meo, Director of Marketing, Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Brand Passenger Cars. "We are certain that the car's one-of-a-kind styling combined with the latest technology will be very well received by customers."

The 21st Century Beetle is an automotive icon, reinvented. Its exterior reinterprets the silhouette of the famous Volkswagen Beetle, combining stylistic elements borrowed from the original coupled with the latest technology. The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle guarantees drivers a fun and unique driving experience.