But the new Up, which was unveiled today four years after the concept landed, could be (though it's officially called the up! [sic], but we won't tolerate such grammatical trespasses). Built to replace the Fox, it is small (3540mm long and 1640mm wide), it is cheap (around £8000) and it is pleasant to look at .
So, is it rear engine'd/rear drive like the Bug? No. But rumblings around Wolfsburg suggested it was tantalizingly close to being so - the Germans decided that all-new architecture was too pricey so settled on trad front-engine/drive underwear.
You'll get to choose between two three-pot engines at launch, which make 59bhp or 74bhp, and there's an electric e-Up coming in 2013. Both the petrols are very very clean, though - in BlueMotion flavour with stop-start tech they'll return 67mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2.
Despite the absence of an engine mounted in its derriere, the Up looks like it'll be pretty dynamic. There's chuff-all body overhang and each wheel sits right out in each corner.
The packaging also means it gets more boot space than the 107/Aygo/C1-shaped competition. 951 litres with the back seats folded down, to be precise.
Vee Dub's also tipping an inordinate amount of kit into its little three-door (a five-door model's coming later). Even the poverty-spec Take Up gets stuff like stability control, six airbags and power steering as standard. There's also a comfort-focused Move Up and range-topping High Up. Oh, Volkswagen, you punsmiths...
So, is this the new Beetle, internet? And can you think of any better Up puns?
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