The original Volkswagen Beetle never took itself too seriously, and the latest evolution of the badge is the same. Take the new Beetle GSR. Perched at the top of the Beetle lineup in terms of performance, this limited-edition vehicle is named for a classic racer, and equipped for entertaining performance. Sounds pretty serious, doesn’t it?
Well, not exactly. The car it’s paying homage to is, in fact, a classic racing Beetle — the Beetle GSR from the early 1970s. And where did the “GSR” badge come from? Why, it’s short for “Gelb-Schwarz Renner,” which is German for “yellow-black racer.” Somehow, it’s not’s as poetic as Ferrari naming the Testa Rossa (Italian for “red head”) after its distinctive red cylinder heads, is it?
Names aside, the newest hot-rod Beetle, whose production will be limited to 3,500 cars, is definitely yellow and black, and it’s definitely a “renner.” The hottest engine for the Beetle lineup is the turbocharged 2.0 liter four-cylinder, and that’s what powers the GSR. 210 horsepower goes a long way in a lightweight vehicle. A choice of six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions is offered. The hottest of the hot-rod Beetles lives up to its famous nameplate nicely, with an exhilarating turbo rush and just enough torque steer to remind you how much power really is going through the front wheels. It never gets too out of hand, thanks to a cross-differential limited-slip system.
The Beetle GSR’s strut front suspension is toughened up with thicker anti-roll bars. A new independent rear suspension is shared with the rest of the Beetle lineup, and improves road feel at the rear. The Beetle GSR has no problem hanging on to the tightest turns, and it’s blessed with VW’s extremely talkative suspension, so you always know what’s going on. This car provides an extremely entertaining drive. The GSR also inherits the Beetle R-Line’s larger front brakes and red-painted calipers. Whatever the Beetle’s reputation is, the GSR knows how to appeal to folks who like to drive.
The appearance package pulls no punches, either, and yellow-car haters need not apply. The Beetle’s aggressive new styling is equal parts modern classic and practical four-seater, with curvy fenders bringing to mind the original Beetle and a heavy C-pillar that’s just a little bit muscle car-ish. The GSR is dressed up with monochromatic bumpers shared with the Beetle R-Line. “Yellow Rush” paint and black racing stripes covering the hood are the only color choices, of course, and the trunk lid, roof and mirrors also are painted contrasting black. Nineteen-inch wheels are standard. A panoramic roof is available, and there’s a big spoiler out back as well. A rear-view camera also is available.
The yellow paint continues onto the interior, where available body-colored panels decorate the dash and doors. Contrasting yellow stitching decorates the leather seats, and a unique steering wheel and shifter knob are installed. This is also where you’ll see evidence that the GSR is an honest to goodness limited edition, in the form of a numbered steering wheel badge. Auxiliary gauges including a stopwatch and boost gauge are located over the center console. The Beetle’s interior is functional as well, with a second glove box mounted high on the passenger side for additional storage. A thumping Fender sound system also is available. Volkswagen’s new VW Car-Net services also are available, offering crash notification, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle assistance and other emergency features. Smartphone app control (iPhone only; sorry Droid users) also will be offered, and VW Car-Net comes with six months of free service.
Of the many cool variants of the already-cool Beetle, the GSR might just be the hottest. Though it’s a limited-production model, the car’s entertaining performance will be just as big a draw as its investment value. Uniqueness has its cost, of course, and the Beetle GSR adds about $10,000 to the bottom line of a base Beetle, which stickers for $29,995 with the manual transmission.
