Wednesday 14th September 2011

Frankfurt: VW Beetle R Concept

VW hints at potential fast Beetle with R Concept design study

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With this, the Volkswagen Beetle R Concept, the folks at Wolfsburg are clearly toying seriously with the idea of adding a third string to the 'R' performance sub-brand's bow.

And we must say that it does make the latest Beetle (which is already a little less girlie than the previous model anyway) like rather a beefy proposition.

This is still very much a design concept however; VW is not revealing any specifics of production plans. We do know that if a Beetle R does make production, however, that it will certainly have a little more poke than the current range-topping Beetle, the 197bhp 2.0 TSI.

Whether it will have as much as the 266bhp Golf R or the 261bhp Scirocco R, is another matter again. Best guess so far is that it will have a little less than the Scirocco (around 240bhp) and that it will get front-wheel drive.

But back to the show car. Finished in Serious Grey (yes, really), it features wide wheel arches, front and rear bumpers widened by 30mm, a bumper that is mostly three air intakes (the middle air intake supplies the engine with oxygen, while the outer two contribute to cooling the brakes), and a rear bumper that gets both a diffuser and 'air exhaust vents'. There are also louvres on the bonnet and a chunky rear spoiler.

Inside, there is a Mappa leather 'sport seat system', including what VW refers to as 'Ergopads made of gray nubuck leather' (nope, we don't know either). Sounds lovely. Can we see a production model now please, VW?

 

[Dr G]

The 'R' wheels look poop in chrome and don't at all suit the shape of the car :/

[jimbo2728]

Can't help but hate this.

[GreatCornholio]

Hmmm, not sure about this but its not a total minger. A VR6 motor would've made it more palatable though! But only in the same way as many beers makes an unattractive woman more pleasing to the eye;)

[soad]

Dr G said:

The 'R' wheels look poop in chrome and don't at all suit the shape of the car :/

True, too blingy.

[joebongo]

Looks like a Porsche who ate all the pies.

[VPower]

Mapper Leather?

[thewheelman]

The thing is, if/when it's made it will actually sell. VW remind me of Apple, they don't make the best products on the market, yet their marketing & advertising manages to pull people in. Ah well, fools & their money are easily parted.

[Wardy76]

ugly bugly

[hornetrider]

jimbo2728 said:

Can't help but hate this.

^^

[BUG4LIFE]

I kind of like it...it looks a laugh

[cookie1600]

VPower said:

Mapper Leather?

Hmm yes Mappa leather, does away with the SatNav



Just don't look between your legs around the M25 near Clacket Lane....

[Stew2000]

I kinda like it. it's like a TT with fatter legs.

[pSyCoSiS]

I think this looks so much better than the current Beetle - a little more aggressive.

Nice colour.

[johnpeat]

pSyCoSiS said:

I think this looks so much better than the current Beetle - a little more aggressive.

Which couldn't be a better example of how pointless it is if it tried.

The Beetle is supposed to be a fun, non-aggressive looking (and trendy I suppose) car.

What they're offering here is a slightly less fat Golf - a Scirocco without the edges - it's pointless...

[tinyh98]

Another few iterations of the Beetle and it will look (more) like a 911

[Frimley111R]

I like that. They have to make the car less girlie and 'ahrdcore' versions are the way to do it (see MINI Cooper S and Fiat 500 Arbarth). It must be a doddle (relatively) to make as it uses std engines/platforms/etc.

[Jack4688]

Am I just out of touch with modern car tech or is down low an odd place to put engine intake?

It's usually at the base of the windscreen with the front bumper intakes being used for cooling.

In this if you drove through a ford or a small flood in the road then that's what would happen to your engine....

[Daston]

I heard they were doing a new 911

[bobberz]

Ooh, I'd buy that! Funny how it even has a micro-sized Porsche "Whale Tail" spoiler!

Not quite as cool as the "Old New Beetle" RSi, but hopefully they'll be a little less insane with the pricing on this one if they make it.

[Hellbound]

Problem is, with all that bloat and expenditure, it'll be bloomin expensive when they finally get to a version any of us would wanna buy!