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Eighteen months ago, Ferdinand Piech treated a few members of the media to rides around a German test track in a Volkswagen New Beetle prototype: 220-horse-power VR6 engine, allwheel drive, 18-inch tires. Basically, a road-going race car. As much as the then-chairman of VW and his passengers enjoyed the vehicle's dynamic capabilities, he admitted that if put into production, this New Beetle would have to be priced between an Audi TT and a Porsche 911.
Obviously, that car isn't going to be made available at your local VW dealer anytime soon. The 2002 New Beetle Turbo S will be, though, and it offers a 180-hp turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission, yaw-controlling ESP, 17-inch wheels, new front fascia and rear valance, less-restrictive dual exhaust and gray-and-black leather interior.
The price is nowhere near Porsche, or even TT, ...