There are few iconic cars out there that Americans identify with. The Ford Mustang, and the Corvette, sure; but they are American made so it's to be expected. The German made Volkswagen Beetle is definitely a standout though, having an important place in both history and nostalgia for car lovers in the U.S. The Beetle is considered the fourth most important car in automotive history. Sixty five years after it's arrival, Volkswagen is celebrating with a classic photo set. To mark the occasion, Volkswagen is issuing a gallery of photographic images featuring a 1949 Type 1 next to a 2014 Beetle. The Volkswagen Beetle arrived in the U.S. four years after operations resumed in Wolfsburg, Germany after the second world war. Originally called the Type 1 Beetle, the British occupying forces used the cars as light transport, but the cars were not taken seriously. The British actually tried to give the company away for free to Ford, unsuccessfully. Ford's chairman at the time famously said: "I don't think what we're being offered here is worth a damn!" I imagine that Ford lived to regret that decision, now that Volkswagen has become the second largest automaker in the world.

Since it's release in 1998, the modern rendition of the Volkswagen Beetle has filled many with a sense of nostalgia for the iconic bug. The cute little retro car immediately tugged at heartstrings everywhere. Riding on the newer third generation body style released in 2010, German automaker Volkswagen has taken up the fun quotient by releasing a convertible version. Slightly bigger than the previous model, the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle remains sleek and modern in it's execution while maintaining it's distinct profile and funky styling. Offering the best fuel efficiency in a convertible, more interior space, lower pricing and better standard equipment, the Beetle trumps it's biggest rival, the Mini Cooper Convertible.

Volkswagen is debuting the ID.7 electric sedan at CES in Las Vegas. The production version will be presented later this year and the car is scheduled to launch in North America in 2024.

Volkswagen is adding the 2015 and 2016 Beetle models to the Takata airbag recall. These cars pose no risk at this time, but the chances of the Takata airbags failing increases over time, and it seems the time of the airbags in these aging cars is almost up.