New Volkswagen Beetle Prices Start at $19,765

Seen by the Germans from Volkswagen as one of the main tools through which it will achieve world domination by the end of the decade, today the new Beetle received its price sticker, one that shows the car maker really plans to sell a considerable number of units.

In the US, the new Beetle will retail starting from $19,765, including a $770 destination charge, cheaper than the previous version and, most importantly, below the $20k mark that has defined the American automotive market for years now.

For that money, a customer buying the Beetle will receive, aside for the more manly looks of a model long thought to be feminine in nature, a 2.5l inline five-cylinder engine that spits a very manly 170 horsepower and that is brought under control with the help of a five-speed manual transmission.

The base model of the Beetle comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, eight-speaker audio system and even a steering wheel wrapped in leather.

The second model in the lineup, the 2.0L TSI, will sell its troop of 200 horsepower and the six-speed manual transmission for $24,165, destination charge included. According to Inside Line, the third Beetle to sell in the States, a TDI Clean Diesel, will sell starting next year, when it enters the market, for prices that will be some $5,000 over the base model.

Volkswagen hopes to gain extra cash from the options it has up its sleeve for the Beetle, options that range from the iPod connectivity to ambient lighting. For now, however, the price list for these options has not been announced.