When Volkswagen offered me a car to use during my trip to Germany for their Beetle festival, I pictured a standard press car – maybe a Golf, or perhaps a current generation Beetle if they were feeling adventurous. What I got instead was a vibrant blue testament to automotive madness: the Beetle RSi.
This wasn’t just any Beetle. This was a limited edition, a truly special machine. Out of only 250 ever produced (plus the original show car), this Beetle RSi was a unique beast that dared to ask, “What if we crammed a VR6 engine into the iconic Bug?” The result was automotive hilarity and brilliance, all rolled into one blue package.
My first glimpse of the Beetle RSi, delivered by the valet, sparked spontaneous laughter. It was the kind of reaction you’d have if you were expecting a cute chihuahua and were instead greeted by a four-foot tall dog in a Daft Punk helmet. This car was unexpected, over-the-top, and utterly delightful.
This particular Beetle RSi, chassis number 002 of 250, held an even more unique story. While all other RSi models were famously silver, this one was blue. Why? It was custom-made for Ferdinand Piech, the former chairman of Volkswagen, who at the time had a penchant for blue cars. Perhaps it was a Cookie Monster fascination, or maybe just a favorite color, but this blue RSi was a one-off, adding to its already considerable rarity. My contact at VW underscored this point when they told me over the phone, “So, you know, don’t crash it.” Suddenly, my planned stunt driving piece seemed ill-advised.
Exclusively sold in Europe, the Beetle RSi remains a rare sight, even for seasoned car enthusiasts. While a few might have made their way to the US, this was my first encounter in person with this legend in metal, plastic, and leather. Visually, the Beetle RSi is impossible to ignore. It’s undeniably, clinically bonkers – and in the most complimentary way possible.
The aggressively sculpted front and rear bumpers, the widened side sills, and that dramatic, two-tiered rear spoiler – with the upper section channeling air to the prominent whale tail – these aren’t just for show. They serve a genuine aerodynamic purpose, transforming the friendly, rounded New Beetle into something far more serious.
This juxtaposition, the playful Beetle shape adorned with hardcore performance modifications, creates a fascinating cognitive dissonance. And that, I believe, is the core appeal of the RSi. It’s an inherently outlandish concept, executed with such skill and dedication that the sheer absurdity becomes its defining strength. The New Beetle was never conceived as a track weapon. Yet, Volkswagen, a massive automotive giant, decided to build one – and not just one, but 250 of them. This contrast, the innocent Beetle face masked by aggressive performance gear, injects a welcome dose of humor into a segment often characterized by seriousness.
In a strange way, it echoes the wild era of the Mulholland-style Beetles. Originating as a joke from a fiberglass parts company in Southern California, the Mulholland look evolved into a genuine (if somewhat tongue-in-cheek) Beetle subculture. The crucial distinction here is that the Beetle RSi possesses the mechanical muscle to back up its aggressive aesthetics.
Under the hood, or rather, under the rounded bonnet, lies the heart of the beast: Volkswagen’s 3.2-liter VR6 engine. Producing around 221 horsepower (225 bhp) at 6200 rpm and 234 lb-ft of torque at 3200 rpm, this was serious power for a car of this size and era. That power is channeled to all four wheels via VW’s 4motion all-wheel-drive system, managed by a slick six-speed manual gearbox.
Contemporary road tests clocked the 0-62 mph sprint at approximately 6.4 seconds, with a claimed top speed of 140 mph. On the German Autobahn, I pushed the RSi and am confident I briefly touched 230-240 km/h (140-149 mph), validating those performance figures. The VR6 engine delivered power smoothly and relentlessly across the rev range.
Before delving deeper into the driving experience, the interior deserves special mention. The “bonkers” design ethos extends inside with liberal use of carbon fiber and billet aluminum. Carbon fiber panels adorn the door cards, instrument binnacle, and other trim pieces, secured by meticulously machined aluminum accents. Virtually every plastic component within the cabin has been replaced with aluminum, elevating the tactile experience significantly.
This commitment to premium materials even extends to the window winders. Yes, the RSi features wonderfully manual windows, a quirky detail in line with its performance-focused, driver-centric nature. I encountered another RSi owner at the Beetle Sunshine Tour, who beamed with pride as he manually lowered his window, gesturing enthusiastically between our cars, exclaiming, “Make big bee-cep, yes?” while flexing his bicep.
The upholstery is equally striking: vibrant orange leather wrapping carbon-fiber racing bucket seats. These aren’t just sporty seats; they are true buckets, single-piece units offering exceptional lateral support. Adjustability is limited to fore and aft movement. Being on the shorter side, I found myself sitting quite low in the car, almost comically so.
However, visibility remained surprisingly good, thanks to the Beetle’s expansive windows. There was so much headroom, you could comfortably perch a medium-sized dog, perhaps a schnauzer, on my head. In place of the standard radio, a cluster of gauges displaying oil temperature, pressure, and voltage are mounted centrally. The radio itself is relocated to a somewhat awkward position in the headliner, nestled between the sun visors.
This placement, and the overall design of the infotainment system, is a stark reminder of the RSi’s early 2000s origins. While 2001 might not seem that distant, stepping into a car from that era highlights the rapid pace of technological advancement. Searching for a USB port in the RSi is a futile exercise. Instead, you find period-correct features like this:
A phone cradle designed for a device the size of a brick. Other nostalgic details include colored LED shift lights and the complete absence of cupholders. These quirks, while amusing now, were cutting-edge features at the time of the RSi’s release.
Back in its day, the Beetle RSi commanded a price tag of around $80,000 – a substantial sum. Was it justified? From a purely rational standpoint, perhaps not. But the RSi isn’t about rationality; it’s about unadulterated fun. It’s a car that brings joy to both the driver and onlookers, a rolling spectacle of automotive enthusiasm.
While I didn’t have the opportunity to track the RSi, I experienced something arguably better: an extended run on the Autobahn. After initially marveling at the disciplined and courteous German drivers, one of the variable speed limit signs flashed the signal every driving enthusiast longs to see: a grey square with diagonal lines – unrestricted speed.
And haul ass, I did. The RSi proved to be an enthusiastic accomplice. Acceleration, even at higher speeds (from 100 km/h to 200 km/h), remained impressively strong in both 5th and even 6th gear. Sixth gear provided slightly less urgency, but still offered noticeable pull. With peak torque arriving at 3200 rpm, the VR6 engine delivered ample power even at autobahn speeds.
At high speeds, the aerodynamic enhancements become palpable. You can sense the wind being channeled around the car, contributing to its stability. Despite its height and somewhat unconventional shape, the RSi felt planted and secure, thanks in part to the all-wheel-drive system. While not delivering the same sensation as piloting a low-slung supercar at 140 mph, the RSi offered a unique and engaging high-speed experience.
By modern standards, the Beetle RSi isn’t blisteringly fast, but it feels plenty quick on the road. And the sound of that narrow-angle VR6 engine is truly intoxicating. Words can hardly do it justice, but this YouTube video captures the essence of the VR6 growl:
[Link to YouTube video in original article – not included here as per instructions]
The gearshift is another highlight: short, precise throws with a satisfying mechanical click. It’s reminiscent of the intricate workings of a fine orrery, a tactile delight that elevates the driving experience. Simply rowing through the gears in the RSi is a source of immense fun.
Overall, Volkswagen truly delivered with the Beetle RSi. While the main Beetle Sunshine Rally event focused on newer Beetles, the RSi served as the perfect ambassador for the original reborn Beetle. It’s a gloriously, deliriously bonkers machine, a New Beetle clad in an Iron Man suit, and a testament to Volkswagen’s willingness to push boundaries and inject some serious fun into the automotive world.
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