Description
The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, economical car produced by the German automaker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, it was originally intended as a “people’s car” (Volkswagen in German) for the German market. Over the years, the Beetle gained a worldwide following and became an icon of 20th-century automotive design.
The Beetle underwent several design changes over the years, but the basic layout of a rear-mounted engine and a rounded body remained constant. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Beetle became a symbol of the counterculture movement in the United States and was often adorned with psychedelic paint and accessories.
In 1998, Volkswagen introduced a redesigned version of the Beetle, known as the “New Beetle.” The New Beetle retained many of the classic design elements of the original, but with updated features and modern technology. Production of the New Beetle ended in 2019, marking the end of an era for one of the world’s most beloved cars.
