It's easy to ignore comments about the New Beetle being a 'girly car' or, worse, a hairdresser's car - after all, BMW laughed all the way to the Z3 sales bank for years despite the limp-wristed reputation of its stylish roadster.
But, in the United States at least, sales figures bear out the popular perception. More than 65 percent of US New Beetle buyers were female (and that's not counting hairdressers).
But VW insists the 2012 Beetle will be a “more masculine car” than its predecessor, with more power - even for the base model - and more macho styling featuring, in particular, bigger wheels and a higher beltline.
VW NA marketing maven Rainer Michel says he wants to change the way Americans see the 2012 Beetle, in the hopes of making two important changes. He wants to bring that 65 percent of female buyers down to a 50:50 split between the sexes, and reduce the average age of Beetle buyers from 58 to 36.
What do South African VW fans think? Does the 2012 Beetle have the necessary street cred for local boykies, even in 149kW Black Turbo guise? Tell us below.