The Beauty and the Beetle

Volkswagen's Beetle clearly is no stranger to the silver screen. After all, the funny-looking bubbly car starred in several Herbie films starting with "The Love Bug" in 1969. Back then, the Beetle still roared while driving and its engine was located in the back with room for suitcases under the hood.

Generations of fans were devastated when the last Beetle left a VW factory in Brazil in 2003 to make room for the New Beetle. But the quieter, smoother revival soon found its own following and even offered a touch of flower power with a complimentary vase next to the steering wheel.

Now, there's the new New Beetle, which will be introduced in Germany in late August. It's a little sleeker, with new bumpers, new lights and more chrome inside. To celebrate the occasion (and probably sell a few new cars,) a new Herbie film is hitting the German movie theaters on Aug. 4. "Herbie fully loaded" stars the original Beetle, which falls in love with a sun flower-yellow new New Beetle.

Americans might get to see the movie a little earlier, but German Beetle fans can participate in what VW hopes will be the world's biggest Beetle parade in Berlin on July 30. Let's hope Herbie's not lost interest in his new love by then.