Move over Herbie! The Love Bug is now the second fastest Beetle on Planet Earth.
Volkswagen revealed it rolled out a “specially tuned” VW Beetle LSR at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, and set a new “Beetle” record of 205.122 mph over a flying mile.
The special Beetle sported a 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder TSI gasoline engine and was driven by Automobile magazine contributing editor Preston Lerner.
The effort is pretty impressive given the fastest regular Beetle is the R-Line putting out 210 horsepower achieving 0 to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds and a governed top track speed of 130 mph.
However, the LSR was tweaked to put out more 2.5 times that number.
“We are completely thrilled with the Beetle LSR’s performance at Bonneville,” said Dr. Hendrik Muth, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America Inc.
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“The Beetle is not the most aerodynamic car in our portfolio, so running 205 mph is a testament to the power that can be made from the EA888 TSI four-cylinder engine. This feat truly underscores the sporty and pugnacious spirit of the Beetle.”
To achieve the horsepower needed to run above 200 mph at Bonneville, while adhering to Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) G/BGC rules, the powertrain was specially modified by THR Manufacturing, based in Santa Paula, California.
With new turbochargers, pistons, camshafts, connecting rods, and head modifications, it produced 543 hp and 421 pound-feet of torque at the wheels: at the flywheel, that would be more than 600 hp and nearly 500 lb-ft.
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That alone might not have been enough to beat Herbie and any of his multitude of drivers ranging from Dean Jones to Lindsay Lohan. To make that happen, the suspension was lowered, special Salt Flat wheels and tires fitted, a limited-slip differential added to aid traction, and the interior was stripped.
Of course, if you’re going to blow past 200 mph in a small rocket, safety is key and the LSR was outfitted with full safety equipment, such as a rollcage, racing seat and harness, and a fire suppression system. Plus, to help slow the car down, the Beetle was fitted with a pair of parachutes.
“Exceeding 200 miles per hour in the Beetle LSR was a serious thrill,” Lerner said. “We had enough power to go even faster if the salt hadn’t been so sketchy. But seeing 208 miles per hour briefly on the digital readout was an experience I’ll never forget.”
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Of course, the LSR doesn’t squirt oil out of its tail pipes to foil other competitors on the track or pop wheelies to get through traffic.