D R I V E N

Love was lost in the motoring industry. Every year car companies launched cars that all looked and acted the same way. No particular vehicle was stealing glances or gasps anymore (except, when you’re driving in a Ssyang Yong Musso). However, when the Volkswagen New Beetle arrived in showrooms, our mojos (kudos to Austin Powers) all went, “yeah, baby, yeah!” 

Problem is, that’s about as far as any normal person could get with the New Beetle. Indeed, it’s a cute little vehicle that pays homage to a car (and culture) of the psychedelic 60s, but for a steep admission price of PHP 1,200,000, people started to rethink their options (hmm…maybe an Accord would do me good). Come to think of it, underneath a shell (and interior) that’s inspired by a car that’s over 30 years old, the New Beetle offers nothing new in terms of automotive design. In fact, its running gear is the same as the more traditional Volkswagen Golf for Pete’s sake! This car shares nothing in common with the old one, especially when it came to affordability. This is not anymore what the Love Bug once was, it has now become a plaything for the rich.

Automotive enthusiasts are now back to square one: is there no car to take over the Beetle’s throne? Can't manufacturers build a small, simple, economical city runabout that’s as fun to drive, as it’s cheap to own? Well, the answer came in an unexpected way from a company whose local offerings were as desirable as a date with Dolphy: Toyota. Yes, the once and future king of the boring sedans has taken a 180-degree turn this year by introducing three perky new vehicles that breathed life into their line-up. Of this three, the one that’s destined to be the Beetle’s true successor is the Toyota Echo. The title first came with hesitation, but was securely planted by driving the punt around town. Clearly, this is the new Beetle of the new millennium.

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