The New Beetle captured VW’s traditional values of practicality and frugality, and served as a whimsical icon for the company. The big news for 2002 was the Turbo S model, which brought a fourth trim level to the mix. The Turbo S shared its 1.8L 180hp turbo engine and six-speed manual transmission with the Golf. Related to the engine of the base Audi TT, the 1.8 turbo added a new measure of performance to the New Beetle. Beyond the excitement of the Turbo S, however, the New Beetle line remained mostly the same, with little more than new wheels for the other models.
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