Redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is revealed in New York

Volkswagen is whipping the covers off the 2012 Beetle this week, with simultaneous presentations at the New York and Shanghai auto shows and an invite-only event near VW headquarters in Berlin.

The two-door hatchback, planned for North American sale beginning in September, continues with the retro-inspired appearance of its direct predecessor. The separate fenders have tauter surfacing, crisper feature lines, squarer bumpers, altered detailing and a more rakish roofline.

The look, developed under Volkswagen Group design boss Walter de Silva and VW brand boss Klaus Bischoff, recalls many of the cues revealed on the Ragster concept first wheeled out at the 2005 Detroit auto show.

Among the car's new features are LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlamps and larger wheels--the latter of which can be specified up to 19 inches. At 168.4 inches long, 71.2 inches wide and and 58.5 inches tall, the new Beetle is a considerable 6 inches longer and 3.3 inches wider--but a half-inch lower than the outgoing model, which has accounted for more than 1 million sales globally since its introduction in 1998.

Inside, there's a redesigned dashboard that is said to provide the car with a more conventional driving position. The outgoing Beetle was criticized for its deep dashboard, something that imbued it with an upright, MPV-like driving environment.

In a move that will disappoint the flower power generation, the plastic vase has been deleted in favor of new list of optional extras, including satellite navigation (the first time it has been has been made available on the Beetle), a high-end sound system developed with guitar and amplifier manufacturer Fender, keyless access and a glass roof that is claimed to be 80 percent larger than that offered on the previous model.

The engine lineup will be the 2.5-liter five cylinder making 170 hp, the 2.0-liter TDI diesel (140 hp) and the 2.0-liter four-banger (200 hp). Other variants will be offered around the world.

As with its predecessor, the new Beetle will be assembled at Volkswagen's Puebla plant in Mexico alongside the Jetta, with which it shares elements of its front-engine/front-wheel-drive platform. Along with the coupe revealed here, VW is well advanced on a convertible version, which insiders say is likely to make an appearance at the Los Angeles auto show in November.