Photo 18 -- New Beetle

When it comes to retro-modern design, no car hit the nail on the head better than the Volkswagen New Beetle. In fact, the New Beetle can be credited with today’s retro-modern design revolution. This car captured the very essence of the original Bug from its modern but faithful design interpretation to its affordable price point, encompassing nearly everything we missed about a car that played an important part in almost every American’s life. When it was introduced in 1997, anyone over the age of 20 had a VW Bug story to tell, and though the new car swapped the original’s rear-drive, air-cooled powertrain for a front engine, front-drive system, Americans accepted it with open wallets. But now the New Beetle is getting old, and everybody that wanted one now has one. Like all things, cars must evolve to stay fresh and without any significant updates, the New Beetle will fade back into history just like the original Bug until it’s resurrected once again – perhaps as the New New Beetle.

Photos courtesy of the manufacturers