IAA 2011: Volkswagen Beetle R Concept Hints at 260HP+ Production Model

Ever since it became known that Volkswagen was developing the new generation of the Beetle, there were rumors about a high-performance variant wearing the 'R' badge. Earlier this year, the German company introduced the production model but the most powerful version was fitted with a 2.0-liter TSI producing 200-horses. Fast but not fast enough.

However, this may soon change as Volkswagen is giving us the clearest indication of its future plans yet with the unveiling of the new Beetle R Concept at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Beginning with the exterior, the Beetle R Concept sports a subtly aggressive design with newly sculpted bumpers that were widened by 30 mm, and blistered wheel arches widened by 15mm per side that house massive 20-inch wheels in the same “Talladega” design found on the Golf R and Scirocco R models.

The study also gets a front lip spoiler, LED daytime running lights incorporated inside the headlamps, a rear wing that is significantly larger than on the production Beetle, a rear diffuser and “Black High Gloss” paint on the roof, the upper part of the bootlid connecting to it, the door mirror housings and door handles.

Furthermore, we also find ventilation slots on the right and left sides of the engine bonnet, and quad tail pipes at the back.

Inside, the Beetle R Concept gets a pair of bucket sport seats up front upholstered in black Nappa leather with “Space Blue” piping, while “Black High Gloss” was used for dashboard accents and decorative elements around the gearshift grip. There are also unique instrument gauges, plus aluminum pedals and door sills.

And now for the million dollar question: what's lurking under the hood? Well, while Volkswagen avoided giving a direct answer to that question, the Germans outlined their intentions by saying that the Beetle R is the third variation of the 'R' family after the Golf R (199 kW / 270 PS) and Scirocco R (195 kW / 265 PS), both of which use a 2.0-liter TFSI four-banger.

VW added, "as an “R”, the Beetle could demonstrate a performance potential similar to that of the Golf R and Scirocco R," which pretty much answers our question, meaning that if or rather when, the Beetle R enters production, it will most likely be powered by the same powertrain delivering somewhere between 260 and 270-horses.

 

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IAA 2011: Audi Presents Facelifted RS 5 Coupé

If you just ordered the RS 5 Coupé, you may want to skip this article… A little over a year after its market launch in Europe in late spring of 2010, but luckily for North American consumers, a few months before the sales launch, Audi has presented a mild cosmetic facelift for its performance model that follows in the lines of the rest of the updated A5 and S5 series.

The chief exterior changes on the outside are concentrated up front where the RS 5 gains a new single-frame grille with beveled upper corners along with the re-sculptured “wave” headlamps framed by narrow strips of LED daytime running lights, revised bumper and sharper edges on the hood.

The subtly modified tail lamp crystals and the newly designed 19-inch forged aluminum wheels with 265/35-series tires or optional, 20-inch wheels with 275/30-series tires, round out the difference on the outside.

Moving on the interior, there's a new leather multifunction sport steering wheel with a flattened bottom, while the ignition key, the column stalks and the shift lever knob have also been redesigned.

There are no updates under the hood as the RS 5 continues to be motivated by a 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 churning out 450-horses at 8,250 rpm, and a peak torque of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm.

A seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system channel power to all four wheels.

The RS 5 Coupe launches from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.6 seconds and can reach an electronically governed top speed of 250km/h, or if ordered without the limiter, 280 km/h (155mph or 174mph respectively).

 

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