What we do know is the campaign puts cleverly designed blood-shot googly eye hubcaps on the fleet of VW Beetles piloted around large events, reminding imbibers to stay away from the steering wheel. But since the language on the side is English, it must be the Englsh speakers at German events causing all the trouble. Darn those Anglophiles! [Copyranter]

We're told the Ragster concept, first shown at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, provided a slight glimpse into how a redesigned New Beetle could look. Our sources tell us the Beetle will lose some of its cutesy flair in favor of a more grownup look, something that will appeal to more than a few VW fans. The car will ride on the same next-gen Group A platform due out next year for pretty much every small and mid-size car in the VW stable, and feature similar choices from VW's lineup of four-cylinder engines. It's also a possibility VW will give U.S. buyers the choice of an 1896cc TDI inline-four that is currently serving duty in the Polo. A convertible model will follow the introduction of the coupe and there is also a possibility of a second four door Beetle model that will ride on the Golf platform. We’ve had KORSdesign illustrate what this new New Beetle could look like. Tell us what you think in the comments below.

The new Beetle, as proposed, should get a stronger look with cleaner lines and a lower, tougher roofline. Built on the new Golf platform, the refined Beetle should also offer more space for passengers and their macho gear. VW hopes it can go from frau to wow with this new design and not have it be relegated to the ride of choice for University of Tennessee sorority girls. [Source/Rendering: AutoExpress]

The Car Company of the People will be sending out recall notices in April to 790,000 American purchasers of their product. The reason? A brake-light switch that may either leave the lights on or never illuminate them in the first place upon depression of the wide pedal. Affected? Glad you asked. Follow along and see if you won the lottery: 1999-2005 Golf and GTI; 1999-2005 Jettas and '02-05 Jetta wagons on the Mark IV platform; 1998-2007 New Beetles and '03-07 New Beetle convertibles, plus the '04 R32. Dang ol' dang, that sure is a mess o' switches. – Davey G. Johnson

Volkswagen recalls 790,000 U.S. cars [Monsters and Critics]

Related:
Recall Party! VW Brake Lights, Corvette Roofs [Internal]

"Sometimes I see her sitting on the rooftop/Perched in a lawnchair and staring into the sky/I know that somewhere in some faraway galaxy/That some gray men with telescopes are gazing right into her eyes." -Grant Hart

Farago talks New Beetlemania (which apparently hasn't yet bitten the dust) with VW PR type Clark Campbell in anticipation of the Roswell gathering of New Beetle owners. Topics of interest? The Nova Scotion rendition of the Roswell incident, the legacy of the dead-in-US-waters Phaeton, and the glory of the DSG, a transmission that Farago drops reference to nearly as often as we namecheck H sker D . No more analysis, but mad H skers after the jump.

Volkswagen Phaeton Found on the Moon! [The Truth About Cars]

Related:
Mehta Says Meh: The Truth About the Buick Lucerne CXS [Internal]