NEW BEETLES HIT THE COAST FOR GERMAN 'SUNSHINE TOUR'

August 23, 2011 1:39 PM AWST

With the European market launch of the 21st Century VW Beetle only a few weeks away, the next generation Beetle was presented to German enthusiasts at one of the biggest New Beetle get-togethers in the world at Travemünde in northern Germany.

More than 350 New Beetles and thousands of visitors descended on Travemunde,on the Baltic Sea coast on 13 August for the annual VW New Beetle gathering known as the 'Sunshine Tour'. The reunion has been taking place since 2004 and attracts Beetle owners and enthusiasts from all over Europe to swap ideas about the "round Volkswagen". The event is devoted primarily to the New Beetle, although the occasional classic Bug gets a look in, too.

This year, the event was supported by live music by the 'Volkswagen Sound Foundation', while a special open-air cinema was set up for a select view Beetle convertible owners to match movies - drive-in style!

Before the get-together at Travemunde, the Beetle fan community gathered at the Volkswagen Center in nearby Lubeck for a joint drive through the city.