What year was the New Beetle introduced?

The New Beetle was introduced in 1997.

Volkswagen launched the New Beetle after the enthusiastic response to its 1994 Concept One design study. The production car retained the original Beetle’s rounded silhouette, separate-looking fenders, and circular lamps, but it was mechanically a modern compact car rather than a direct continuation of the old model.

Unlike the original Beetle, the New Beetle used a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. It was based on Volkswagen’s PQ34 platform, shared with cars related to the fourth-generation Golf. Production began in October 1997, although the car was marketed as a 1998 model year in some markets.

That model-year difference causes occasional confusion: 1997 is the introduction and production-launch year, while 1998 appears in many North American references as the first model year. A convertible version followed for the 2003 model year, and the New Beetle remained in production until 2011.