At first glance, this looks like a normal Volkswagen Beetle, but open the boot, and you’ll find a Tesla Model S-sourced electric powertrain generating 450 hp and 498 lb-ft (675 Nm) of torque. This 2,315-pound restomod may not have the power of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS with its 4.0L flat six engine making 520 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque, but the latter is considerably heavier at 3,152-pounds. Read more for the drag racing showdown that ensued when these two met.
H/t: Car Scoops
The infamous M1 motorway that connects London to Leeds may be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the UK, but most drivers hate the daily commute, and one of the reasons is because of the traffic. This person encountered something that probably caused quite the backup once police arrived on scene, or more specifically, a truck driver who collided with a Volkswagen Polo and failed to stop. Read more for the expletive-filled footage captured on smartphone by a passenger in another car.
Remember Volkswagen’s all-electric ID. BUZZ AD (Autonomous Driving) vehicle from years back? Well, the automaker has teamed up with Argo AI in preparation for the launch of autonomous services in Germany and beyond. This retro-futuristic van is set to become the first Volkswagen Group vehicle equipped with SAE Level 4 automation capabilities, and it’s currently being tested on Argo’s brand new closed-course track at Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Unveiled at the 2021 Munich Auto Show today, the Volkswagen ID. LIFE is basically the classic microbus turned futuristic urban electric vehicle. Starting from the outside, it features a horizontal division between the body, glass surfaces and roof, giving it a purist appearance, while a removable roof made of air chamber textile lends an open-air feeling. This EV is essentially based on a smaller variant of the company’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) developed specially for the small car segment. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Volkswagen’s Mobile Charging Robot can be summoned either with a free app or Car-to-X communication, and it operates completely autonomously. It’s capable of steering the vehicle to be charged and then communicates with it, whether that means opening the charging socket flap or connecting the plug / unplugging. The entire charging process happens without any human involvement whatsoever. To charge several electric vehicles simultaneously the mobile robot moves a trailer, or a mobile energy storage unit, to the vehicle, connects, and then uses this to charge the batteries. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
With the ability to travel 280 mpg, the Volkswagen XL1, a diesel-powered plug-in hybrid, is currently the world’s most fuel efficient car. It’s powered by a 0.8L two-cylinder diesel engine making 47 hp and 27 hp electric motor, for a combined output of 68 hp and 100 lb⋅ft of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. The production version boasts an all-electric range of 31-miles from the 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, while the 10-liter fuel tank is good for 250-miles of real world driving until the car needs to be refueled. Read more for two videos, including a test drive and an inside look.
Photo credit: Wicked Concepts
Its license plate is fittingly “HUGE BUG”, and rightfully so. A father and son duo took a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle and made it 40% larger. How so? It’s essentially a custom-built VW Beetle that rides atop the chassis of a 2010 Dodge Ram full-size pickup truck powered by a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine up front. That’s right, it took 3,514 custom parts in the metal fabrication shop that he owns, including screws created from scratch because there were none that existed in their size. Read more for a video and additional information.
Photo credit: Aledekas Studio
Mexico-based Aldekas Studio has always been a fan of the original VW Beetle, or Volkswagen Type-1 as some call it, and what better way to salvage one than by turning its many parts into a go-kart. Called Bugkart Wasowski, this miniature vehicle repurposes the fenders, headlights, turn signals, a fender, and original chrome side mirrors into the Beetle’s distinctive shape. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Based on the fifth-generation Volkswagen Caddy, the Mini-Camper is designed for a small family who wants to go on a weekend adventure, without having to rent an RV or stay at a campsite. At night, the 15-square-foot panorama glass roof can be used for stargazing, but if you prefer to doze off in complete darkness, the windows can be darkened. In the rear, you’ll find lightweight camping chairs and a table from the California models, while two storage bags can be taken inside the home for simple loading. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Photo credit: CarScoops
When entering any kind of parking garage, make sure that your motor skills are not impaired, or else you’ll end up like this guy. Put simply, this VW Passat driver in Switzerland approached a parking garage seemingly normal, but upon entering, something goes terribly wrong and the vehicle ends up slamming not only into the walls, but the gate meter itself. Read more for the footage.