If a Toyota Prius were mated with a Volkswagen Bug (New Beetle)...

Its offspring would likely look pretty much like this (pictured is the Mitsubishi eMiEV electric car).

Next: Our first lodging review.

Yes, Virginia, there will be a "new" New Beetle...

It appears that our beige Bug will have a nephew (or two) arriving as early as 2010. The new Bug that's likely to appear then is pictured in the top two photos above and will be known as the MkII (Mark Two) New Beetle. This new model may be a bit smaller and/or lighter than the current Bug - beige or not - as highly fuel efficient cars are more in demand in the U.S. at this time. Although we think this may just be icing on the chocolate cake... A recent drive of several hundred miles in the current Bug resulted in 26.2 real world MPG. Twenty six point two is marathon mileage!

The MkII New Beetle may also be joined by a mini-Bug based on the VW Up! Prototype, a Smart car competitor, pictured above in the bottom photo. Whether its one new New Beetle or two, it looks like good times are ahead for us Bug lovers.

Too much retro?

As a boomer, I went through a period of quasi-burn out on the music, cars and other icons of the 60s and 70s. Hearing great songs like Gimme Some Lovin' used for retirement planning commercials was quite depressing, so I attempted to escape. Then a wise friend told me not to abandon the past but to embrace it. So I changed my attitude and it has been for the better.

Now Mrs. Bear and I drive a 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle (Bug) in 1967 beige, listen to 60s-era music on XM Channel 6, and - as made clear by this site - I've also returned to listening to 70s music in heavy rotation.

Anyway, a major magazine's current issue makes the point that there's been a difference - at least in car design - between true retro and overly cute. Fortunately, they cite the VW New Beetle (whew!) and the Ford Mustang as current examples of retro truly inspired by the original 60s cars. Then they provide some bad examples, the chief one pictured here. This they felt was "retro cute," a car designed to imititate the new retros rather than the original Ford Thunderbird. Agreed. To my eyes, this car looked nothing like the old Bird.

This car is no longer around because, of course, it did not sell well. Was it the design or the engineering? It could have been either, as the New Bird was said to suffer from extreme cowl shake, meaning the car felt like it was falling apart when you drove it over a railroad track. Details, details...