New Beetle

going Back to the future

In 1997, VW boldly redesigned its iconic Beetle, a model whose looks had barely changed since it was introduced in 1938. The rear-mounted engine moved to the front and the car got a new streamlined body that came off as vintage and futuristic at the same time. To compete, other carmakers rolled out their own retro-modern models, like Chrysler’s PT Cruiser with its 1930s vibe and Dodge’s Challenger, harkening the muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s.