In its day it was more comfortable and
powerful than most European small cars, and ultimately became the
longest-running and most-produced automobile of a single design. It
remained a top seller in the US, even as rear-wheel drive
conventional subcompacts were refined, and eventually replaced by
front-wheel drive models. The Beetle car was the benchmark for both
generations of American compact cars such as the Chevrolet Corvair,
and subcompact cars such as the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto.
It is often considered a German equivalent and counterpart to
the Austin/Morris Mini. In an international poll for the award of
the world's most influential car of the twentieth century the Beetle
came fourth after the Ford Model T, the Mini, and the Citroën DS
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