Volkswagen Beetle RSi, A German Atomic Bomb

A conservative manufacturer such as Volkswagen seldom deviates from the established. His most special creations are easy to count due to their scarcity, but they all have one thing in common: they are German beasts. The Volkswagen Beetle RSi that stars in these lines is a clear example of this.

As we said, a manufacturer like Volkswagen rarely lets go of its hair, but when it does, it leaves its mark, creating contemporary classics that we all would like to have and that only a few can. Each and every one of them has that differentiating touch, and in the case of the RSi that touch is given by its image and racing DNA.

Competition DNA

The launch of the New Beetle was eagerly awaited in the major markets, North America and Europe. However, while sales on the other side of the pond were only increasing, in Europe things were not working as planned.

This commercial setback led to the creation of a single-brand cup, the New Beetle Cup, where highly modified ‘beetles’ ran. With a positive acceptance and having an impact on an increase in sales, the brand was motivated to create a street version derived from the circuits.

Its production would be limited to 250 units at a fairly high price, but in exchange we got one of the most special cars to come out of Wolfsburg. Its design, derived from the racing model, hardly broke the harmony of the car’s lines, although the end result was much more aggressive than the base model.

Both the front and the rear gained new, more bulky and low bumpers, with greater cooling intakes. The wheel arches were widened by 80 mm and the rear was adorned with a generous spoiler on the boot.

The cabin also received significant changes from a normal Beetle. We found ourselves with backet type seats covered in leather, a material that combined with aluminum gave the interior its own personality.

A very capable heart

Although the racing version was equipped with a 2.8-liter V6 engine, the production model opted for the house’s 3.2-liter V6 already seen in other models. If you don’t recognize it, it’s because it’s often called the VR6, a narrow-V engine that takes up the same space as an in-line four-cylinder.

This engine offered tons of power for such a small and feminine vehicle: nothing more and nothing less than 225 hp and 312 Nm. The injection cut for its part remained at 6,500 rpm.

It was accompanied by a six-speed manual gearbox and the foolproof 4Motion all-wheel drive with Haldex viscous drive differential. For its not enough, the set was spiced up by a Remus stainless exhaust system with double outlet.

This exhaust was the same one that was used in competition, conveniently catalyzed, as were the suspensions, which were stiffer and which increased the track width by 80 mm.

An over-limited edition

It has always been said that ‘powerful is money’, and the Volkswagen Beetle RSi suffered in its own flesh what could be done with a large enough portfolio. The already limited edition of 250 units would receive another 80 somewhat special thanks to a commission from an emir of Dubai.

This emir received one of the 250 RSi units free of charge as a gift from Volkswagen itself. What the Germans did not expect is that they liked the car so much as to buy more units, with the intention of giving one to each of their children, nothing more and nothing less than 80.

As according to him the power of the V6 of the Volkswagen Beetle RSi was too much, he expressly asked the German manufacturer for 80 units of a conventional Beetle equipped with the 1.8T engine, suppressing the 4Motion traction and the sports suspensions, while maintaining the RSi body kit. .