New Beetle, '98 Corvette stars of auto show

The '98 Corvette

In this story:

• 'The birth of a legend'
• Front, rear disc brakes

January 5, 1998
Web posted at: 6:58 p.m. EST (2358 GMT)

DETROIT (CNN) -- The Chevrolet Corvette was named Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show here Monday and the Mercedes ML 320 was chosen Truck of the Year.

The opening of the show also marked the North American debut of the new Volkswagen Beetle, more than 20 years after Volkswagen pulled the popular car off the market.

The Corvette, which is manufactured by General Motors, was redesigned last year and bested the Audi A6 and the Lexus GS series for car of the year honors. It has a base list price of $38,060.

VXtreme Video CNN's Bruce Morton reports

The honor was awarded last year to the Mercedes-Benz SLK coupe.

The Mercedes ML 320, which starts at $33,950, is a cross between a car and a sport utility vehicle and a huge success with buyers. It bested the Dodge Durango and Subaru Forester in the truck category.

Last year's winner was the Ford Expedition.

The vehicles are judged by 48 North American automotive writers and broadcasters. Ballots went out early in November, and finalists were selected from a list of 24 vehicles.

The winners were announced during the media preview portion of the show, which attracted 5,000 journalists from around the world. The show opens to the public January 10.

'The birth of a legend'

The Bug has come a long way

Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech attended the North American unveiling of the new Beetle, and called it "the birth of a legend, a love affair continued, a dream come true."

First introduced as a concept car four years ago, VW expects to sell 50,000 of the reincarnated Beetles in North America in its first year. The price tag will start at $15,000.

The company is hoping it can still cash in on the enduring affection many people still have for the original Beetle, which was noted for being cheap, reliable transportation. The company sold 21.5 million units, and in the 1960s the car became a cultural icon.

"The new Beetle cannot deny its origin and the magic of its shape," Piech said. "We believe the new Beetle is not just another car."

Although it retains the familiar rounded, albeit streamlined, shape of the original, the engine is now in front rather than in the cramped rear compartment. The engine is water-cooled, rather than air-cooled, and is considerably quieter than those 20 years ago.

The standard two-liter engine will generate 115 horsepower, but at least one optional engine will offer 150 horsepower. And an automatic transmission -- unthinkable before -- is another option.

Front, rear disc brakes

The body will be fully galvanized and there are driver- and passenger-side airbags and front and rear disc brakes.

Production of the original Beetle at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg, Germany, plant ended when it decided to stop marketing the Beetle in the United States.

VW officials privately admit that the company pulled the plug too soon on the Beetle and underestimated the public's emotional attachment to the car.

They did, however, continue to manufacture and sell the car in Mexico and South America.

Detroit Bureau Chief Ed Garsten and Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• A 'Vette with a view and other new-car looks for '98 - October 14, 1997
• Volkswagen to roll out the New Beetle - July 16, 1997
• Corvette: A new look for America's sports car - January 9, 1997

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• C5 Corvette
• The New Beetle

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