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2012 Volkswagen Beetle to launch with Black Turbo edition

Volkswagen is borrowing a page from sister company Porsche and will turn to the color black to sex up the soon-to-arrive 2012 VW Beetle--and to draw attention to a preorder program launching this year. The Beetle Black Turbo edition follows in the lineage of Porsche 911s augmented with Black editions, and the VW will sticker for $25,720, including shipping. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, which is the same as the regular turbo Beetle--and VW's hot hatch, the GTI.

One Lap of the Web: We missed April Fools'

-- Yesterday was April Fools' Day, a holiday known in some cultures as "April 1st." We chose to ignore the staid, unamusing fake press releases touting everything from Ford C-Max charcoal grilles to Audi sushi to BMW's annual efforts. ("The Ultimate Sleeping Machine" is what Web commenters will inevitably post in an effort to deride the upcoming 2-series.) But Petrolicious did a tasteful video of a certain moneyed purist's most prized vehicle, a car with all the panache, style, and passione that only its beautiful curves could convey. The folks at Petrolicious begged for a ride in this dangerously exciting speed machine, and by Jove, they got it.

VW may add small car or SUV to U.S. plant

Volkswagen may build a small car or an SUV at its new U.S. plant in Tennessee, in addition to the mid-sized sedan that goes into production there next year. VW is considering options for the plant's second product even before it has begun building its first, Tom Loafman, the company's purchasing director, said here last week at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars.