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"The Volkswagen Beetle has just become a senior citizen. The Volkswagen Beetle first came to America&amp;#039;s shores 65 years ago, with only a single dealership selling the vehicle. Now, 5.5 million vehicles later, the formerly-named Volkswagen Type 1 has become a symbol of everything from American hippie culture to mainstream advertising and filmmaking. SEE THIS: Volkswagen Beetle Dune Back in the 1950s, the Volkswagen Type 1 had a steep hill to climb. Small German cars were nowhere near the pulse of the average American consumer, and horsepower ratings between 33 and 40 meant that most Beetles were far too underpowered for typical American tastes. However, durability, economy, and handling prowess helped the Beetle gain a small foothold. A good kick in horsepower in 1966 to the mid-50s range translated into the Beetle becoming a ready companion for the daily highway commutes of the average American, and the Beetle quickly became America&amp;#039;s most popular imported vehicle.  &amp;quot;Beetle&amp;quot; became synonymous with a happy and helpful driving companion that would stay with you through the good times and bad. Unfortunately, it would be a long line of Japanese imports in the 1970s, such as the Datsun 210 and Toyota Corolla, that would lead to the decline of the Beetle&amp;#039;s popularity. Volkswagen decided to stop shipping Beetles to the US in 1979. PHOTOS: 2015 Volkswagen Beetle R Though the Beetle was anything but forgotten in the psyche of American culture. With a renewed emphasis on selling their cars to enthusiasts and romantics, Volkswagen decided to reintroduce the Beetle in 1997 as the New Beetle. Rave reviews, a well-chosen TDI option, and a willingness to sell the Beetle with several different engine and transmission combinations\u2014along with the reintroduction of the Cabriolet model in 2003\u2014helped keep the Beetle marketable during a very long first-generation run that only saw the mildest cosmetic changes in overall design throughout the 2000s.  Today, Volkswagen has gone back to selling Volkswagen Beetles as &amp;#039;Volkswagen Beetles.&amp;#039; The &amp;#039;New&amp;#039; is no longer needed, and with over 5.5 million sold in the US, the Beetle has come full circle, making its journey from the outer edges of automobilia to the mainstream of the automotive marketplace. We offer a &amp;quot;Beep! Beep!&amp;quot; to a car that will likely remain the first thing Americans think of whenever they hear &amp;quot;Volkswagen.&amp;quot; PHOTOS: 2011 Mini Cooper S vs 2012 Volks\u00ADwagen Beetle Turbo "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/videos/a6956/volkswagen-beetle-aarp/>