How retro can you go?

When I saw the press release about a set of retro Beetle Cabrios, I have to admit, I expected some bright, sunny colours. Maybe orange for the 7os, or acid yellow. For 50s, I thought two-tone. (Pink would be too much to ask).
   We do get a baby blue (called Denim Blue) on the 60s, black and chrome, inspired by a black leather jacket, for the 50s and a metallic 'Java' for the 70s. Metallic bronze and copper paints are 'the' colours for 2014 (see the Evoke below), and this one is a far nice shade than the metallic browns on 1970s' Allegros etc.
   I really like the painted metal dash on this latest Beetle, and I love the chrome disks on the 50s - almost shiny Moon discs. Hate the axe-blade alloys on the blue 60s, though.
   The reason for the restrained colour schemes, I'm sure,  is that VW has just redesigned the car, hoping to give it more masculine appeal. No more flower vase for this generation. After all, the Mini and the Fiat 500 appeal to both sexes, why not the Beetle?
   I'm afraid it may be too late, the reimagineering of the Beetle created a soft, curved, downright cute car with no pretensions to sporty performance or handling. Maybe they should give it up and give us girls a pink one after all.

For more on these special editions, see my story on Beauty & the Dirt.