It's Beetle Mania!

The wait is over, Jacksonville: The third generation of the iconic Beetle coupe has finally arrived at three First Coast Volkswagen dealerships.

And, if early reaction by consumers and car enthusiasts - including male drivers - is any indication, "Beetle Mania" could be back stronger than ever.

First, a little Beetle history:

When the first Beetle rolled off the production line in 1938, it was simply called the Volkswagen - "the people's car"- but its distinctive shape inspired nicknames across the globe: Beetle, K?fer, Vocho, Coccinelle, Fusca, Maggiolino or ?b??ie! In total, 21.5 million cars were sold, making it the most popular car of all time that was manufactured off a single platform.

More than 60 years later, in 1998, the "New Beetle" rekindled the spirit and imagination of the original for a new generation of Volkswagen owners. This second-generation version sparked another round of "Beetle Mania." It also took on the reputation of being a "chick car," evident by the fact that 60 percent of Beetle sales last year were to women.

Now, the third generation of the internationally beloved Beetle is ready for prime time and a balanced consumer market - it's longer, lower and wider than the previous model. And, yes, the standard flower bud vase on the dash is gone.

"Volkswagen has hit its mark [with its intent to attract male buyers]," said Curt Folstad, general manager of Jack Hanania's Volkswagen of Orange Park on Blanding Boulevard, liking the styling influences from the Audi TT and Porsche. "We've had more men than women come to the dealership to check out our two Beetles."

Jim Reynolds, at Tom Bush Volkswagen on Atlantic Boulevard, has garnered a similar reaction since receiving his initial two Beetles.

"We've gotten awesome reaction," Reynolds said Wednesday. "We received a case of 50 brochures along with our first two Beetles last Thursday and the brochures were all gone by Saturday morning."

On the Southside, O'Steen Volkswagen on Philips Highway held an invitation-only event last Thursday to further introduce the also-exciting and all-new Passat sedan to its customers. The dealership was fortunate enough to have two Beetles arrive in time for the event.

A Denim Blue 2.5L coupe on display in the showroom drew plenty of favorable comments ... and a buyer the next day. Since then, O'Steen received a white Turbo model to show customers interested in placing orders.

Like the two aforementioned dealerships, O'Steen is starting to get steady shipments from the port in Brunswick, Ga.

"The reaction from customers has been phenomenal," said O'Steen Volkswagen General Manager Bill Olive on Tuesday. "Folks like the shape, size and the boldness of the new Beetle. The increased length and width has given it a more stable feel, as well."

As mentioned, there are two models currently available: the 2.5L Beetle and the sporty Turbo with its 18-inch twister alloy wheels. In 2012, a TDI Clean Diesel will go on sale; a convertible is also planned as a 2013 model.

Starting base price for the Beetle is $18,995; the Turbo model has a starting MSRP of $23,395.

Available premium features include Bluetooth technology, slide-and-tilt panoramic sunroof, Fender premium audio system, three-color ambient lighting, kaeferfach additional glovebox, keyless access with push-button start, and leather seating surfaces.

Volkswagen designers wanted to develop the new Beetle around the earliest Beetle profile rather than the 1998 New Beetle. The 2012 Beetle is 71.2 inches wide (3.3 inches wider), 58.5 inches tall (0.5 inches lower) and 168.4 inches long (6.0 inches longer).

The new focal point is the C-pillar. The development team also increased the car's track widths and wheelbase. The changed proportions give the Beetle a powerful and dynamic appearance. A new feature is the rear spoiler that is standard on the 2.0 Turbo and is integrated into the design. Even though the "cathedral ceiling" dome roof of the New Beetle has been replaced with a sleek and sporty roofline, front and rear passenger headroom remains plentiful. The longer roof section results in 0.4 inches more rear-seat headroom. Front legroom is improved, too, by 1.9 inches, and front shoulder room grows by 2.5 inches. Overall, the interior volume has increased from 81 to 85 cubic feet.

The trunk is significantly larger, offering 15.4 cubic feet of space, compared with the New Beetle's 12.0 cubic feet: With the seats folded, the capacity increases to 29.9 cubic feet. A split-folding rear seat - new on this Beetle - and a wide opening trunk lid ease loading and unloading.

The 2012 Beetle offers the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic and the 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine with the acclaimed DSG six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Five- and six-speed manual transmissions are also offered on the 2.5L and Turbo models, respectively.

The dual-overhead-cam, 20-valve, 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine makes 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy values are improved by up to 10 percent over prior 2.5-liter models. When outfitted with the six-speed automatic transmission, the EPA estimated fuel economy rating is 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

The Beetle Turbo uses Volkswagen's award-winning dual-overhead-cam, 16-valve, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produces 200 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque. With the DSG automatic transmission, it offers an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 30 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg city.

For more information on the 2012 Beetle, go to vw.com. Websites for the Jacksonville-area Volkswagen dealerships are osteenvw.com; tombushvw.com; and volkswagenoforangepark.com.

Director of Specialty Publications Joe DeSalvo contributed to this report.