VW tweaks New Beetle styling.(News)(Brief Article)

Byline: Jens Meiners

Volkswagen hopes a face-lift will halt sliding sales of the New Beetle in Europe and the US.

The retro model goes on sale this summer with its first freshening since the car debuted in 1998.

The New Beetle's styling changes are subtle. The front and rear fascia, fenders and side sills are new. Front and rear lights are slightly changed.

Inside the car gets chrome trim around the air vents and the instrument cluster.

VW is dropping the New Beetle's 2.3-liter, five-cylinder and 1.8-liter turbocharged gasoline engines in Europe because of low sales.

The 1.9-liter diesel engine has its horsepower raised …