Volkswagen Beetle set to scorch Indian roads from 2009

According to Joerg Mueller, president and managing director, Volkswagen India, the German company has decided to bring Beetle to India in 2009.

"The Beetle will come here. After strengthening our dealership network, it will come next year," Mueller said.

Introduced in 1938, the small family car Beetle became the rage worldwide, despite peculiar styling, underpowered motor, rough handling, and high noise levels, and became the longest-running and most-produced automobile of a single design in the history. It also set a benchmark for both generations of American compact cars such as the Chevrolet Corvair, and subcompact cars such as the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega.

In the international poll for the award of the world's most influential car of the 20th century, the Beetle came fourth after the Ford Model T, the Mini, and the Citroën DS.

Basking in the success of the classic Beetle, Volkswagen introduced a new Beetle, or the "bug" as it was lovingly called by the public, in 1998, drawing heavy inspiration from the design cues of the original Beetle. However, unlike the original, the new Beetle has its engine in the front and luggage storage in the rear.