A Humvee could never be Herbie. Its rounded shape echoes that of the old, and in a sea of sport-utility vehicles, it is refreshingly distinctive. Even the engine, now in front, is a marvel of clean design, but it doesn't invite tinkering the way the old one did. Indeed, it is an altogether different kind of machine, essentially just a Beetle-like body on a Golf chassis. The New Beetle's abundant safety features mark it as a departure from the old Bug, which had all the impact resistance of fine crystal.
People love the New Beetle.
For the next few days, motorists and pedestrians alike pointed and smiled so cheerfully that it sometimes felt as though I were driving Barney past a kindergarten class on a field trip. But if you want to meet people, this is your car. The part of me that appreciates a well-made machine definitely likes it. But the part that watches in dismay and disbelief as cultural icons disappear into the maw of commerce tells me it's just a marketing ploy. The old Bug symbolized a sort of freedom.