The new Volkswagen Beetle has been unveiled in China on the eve of the Shanghai motor show.
"The latest generation moves away from design of the New Beetle of 1998 and instead draws on cues from the original and Beetle Ragster concept shown in Detroit in 2005, says a VW press release. "As such it's longer, wider and lower, giving a more masculine and dynamic appearance."
The most noticeable difference perhaps, is a glasshouse/roof section that's all been moved towards the rear of the car - so the newcomer looks a little less 'toytown' than its predecessor which didn't know whether it was coming or going.
In the UK, a choice of four engines will be offered: three petrol - a 1.2-litre TSI 104 bhp, a 1.4-litre TSI 158bhp and a 2.0-litre TSI 198bhp; and one diesel - a 1.6-litre 105 PS with BlueMotion Technology. The top of the range petrol will do 129mph, we're advised.
Sales start in 2012, but you'll be able to order the car this summer should the pictures inspire you.
(*We know the old one wasn't just for girls.)
Update:
Unlike the old 'new' Beetle, the new 'new' Beetle is intended as a much more sporty proposition. We grabbed a few quick words with the car's designer, Marc Lichte, for his take on exactly why.
"The last 'new' Beetle had a very striking graphic, but its three semi-circle profile meant that the dash was really long, and this did not make for a very sporty drive.
"With the new car we have a much more upright a-pillar and a much shorter dashboard - the shortest of any VW group car, in fact - and as well as evoking the spirit of the original Beetle it makes for a much more sporting driving experience. I've driven it a few times now and I can genuinely say that it seems to me to be even more sporty than the Scirocco.
"it's also much more practical - the shape allows room for four tall adults to fit inside in comfort."
Which is nice to know, but if it's so sporty we wondered if there was any chance of anything hotter than the current 198bhp range-topper.
"There are many possibilities," says Marc. "We have a lot of ideas, and don't forget that the underpinnings of the car are based on the VW Group PQ35 platform - the same as the current Golf and the Audi TT."
But Lichte is also keen to point out that the Beetle shouldn't need a high-output engine to be fun to drive: "Just like with the Scirocco, it makes the best possible use of the performance it has got."