Volkswagen Beetle

The Beetle is a compact car marketed by Volkswagen first from the forties to seventies, and then revived in the nineties. It was first built for Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler as an attempt at a "people's car" that anyone could afford (Volkswagen is German for "people's car"). It was designed by Ferdinand Porsche, who later founded the legendary Porsche brand. The Beetle became popular amongst American hippies. The Beetle is noted for having remained in production in Mexico for decades after it was discontinued in the US. The Beetle was noted for being rear-engined.

Revival
A "New Beetle" (now known simply as the Beetle) was introduced in 1997. It was criticized for being larger than the original and for being front-engined.

Motorsport
The Beetle competed in the Trans Am Series. It also competed in the Baja 1000 race across the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. Special "Baja Bug" editions were made.

Television
The character Bumblebee in the original Transformers series transforms into a yellow Beetle. The revival series has been criticized for making Bumblebee a Chevrolet Camaro instead.