28 May 2001: A 1.6-litre automatic VW Beetle will be available in Ireland from August, along with a 1.8-litre turbocharged version also with auto. This extends the range of Beetles from three to five - currently the car is available in 1.6 102 bhp at £17,135, a 2.0 115 bhp at £19,000, and a 2.0 at A/T £20,415. Prices for the new cars are yet to be released.

From mid-June, a Golf Highline in TDI and 1.6-litre petrol will also be available, while a Bora Trendline spec in TDI and 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol versions are to be introduced. The specification includes electric mirrors and windows, sporty front seats and 15" alloys.

Meanwhile, in Beetle news from the US, the 1.8-litre turbo version is to get a power increase to 170bhp and a convertible version is to be built at the Puebla, Mexico, plant, with development input from Kharman. Also in the US, a new VW cabriolet is to be based on the Bora (Jetta there) instead of the traditional Golf, and may well have a folding hardtop al la Peugeot 206 Cabriolet and the slightly more expensive Lexus SC430. TW