Volkswagen New Beetle RSi

When crazy ideas are turned into reality in Wolfsburg, something like the Golf GTI or Golf R emerge. At the former Motorsport department in Hanover, for example, pipe dreams turned into the Race Touareg 3 Qatar. If, however, some extraordinary ideas are realized at VW’s Mexican branch, the result looks like the New Beetle RSi. This 225 hp vehicle, limited to 250 units, formed the basis for Beetle Cup. On the other hand, it is still an almost undiscovered collector’s car with a high tendency to become a valuable classic. Are you, my lady, wearing high heels with a roller skate function? And you, sir: does the money compartment in your wallet have a bill light? No? Then you tend not to be a New Beetle RSi driver. What makes me think that? Well, how else can you describe a well-behaved hatchback that was fitted with aerodynamic components as if it were a racing car ex works?

140 mph with 225 hp

Due to its appearance, the Volkswagen New Beetle RSi is still one of the absolutely misunderstood cars of this world. It thus ranks with cars like the Mercedes-Benz 190 E Evo II, the Opel Lotus Omega/Vauxhall Lotus Carlton or the broad line of Mitsubishi Lancer Evos and Subaru Impreza WRXs. Because of their huge wings, they are about as popular in the posh suburban townhouse neighborhood as the 15-year-old daughter’s punk boyfriend. With one small difference: Except for the RSi, the aforementioned models all have a large fan base. It’s hard to say what exactly prevents car fans from taking the VW to their hearts. It can’t really be down to the technical details. Beneath the Beetle’s bodyshell throbs a 3.2-liter-VR6 that produces 165 kW/225 hp. These are transmitted to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. The sprint to 62 mph is completed in 6.4 seconds, and the speedometer needle finally stops at a maximum of 140 mph. This means that the RSi is a good performer for its power and aerodynamic.

Sports bucket seats in the front

Volkswagen officially refers to the RSi as a fully-fledged four-seater, but it isn’t recommended for people taller than 1.60 meters to sit in the back seat on long journeys. In addition, access to the second row is extremely complicated due to the bucket seats. These can only be moved back and forth, but the backrest is fixed. Compared to its series brothers, the RSi’s interior is lined with tropical orange leather. It is set off in various places by anthracite-colored Alcantara and carbon trim. The speedometer unit has also been given a completely new look and includes a gear shift indicator in addition to the tachometer, rev counter and the like. Where the radio is installed in the normal Beetle, the RSi has additional instruments for on-board voltage, oil pressure and oil temperature. The audio system’s control unit is located in the headliner. The throaty-sounding VR6 is brough to life by a button in the center console.

127,000 DM for a New Beetle

Most people could probably still live well with that. What can be disturbing, and apparently is, is the unusual exterior appearance of the vehicle. Even the normal New Beetle is a car that causes either admiration or disinterest. Add to this car 86 millimeters wider fenders, an almost grinning front bumper, a roof spoiler, a beer-bar-sized rear wing and a rear bumper with integrated diffuser, and garnish the whole thing with 18-inch alloy wheels and 235/40 Michelin tires, and the number of people interested in such a vehicle is extremely manageable. Volkswagen already knew this when they unleashed the New Beetle RSi on mankind in 2001. They limited the mega Beetle to just 250 units worldwide. The price, at the latest, did the rest to degrade the RSi to a slow seller: Your friendly VW dealer in Germany asked for DM 127,000 – the equivalent of around € 64,950.

Price doubled in 12 years

The fact that the pre-series prototype of the RSi was painted in a racy blue, while the production cars could only be ordered in silver metallic afterwards, may have been a sour point of criticism for some as well. After all, the pricing policy at the time ensured that one should snap up today if one is looking for a rare, even limited edition vehicle with a whimsicality guarantee and an exotic bonus. 12 years ago, prices were in the cellar. Good examples cost around € 40,000. In the meantime, one must at least double this value. Undoubtedly a lot of money for a New Beetle, but look at the car from the other side: Where do you get sporty looks, motorsport-proven technology and winter-ready all-wheel drive in a single car? And then with a running limited edition number on top? The New Beetle RSi may be misunderstood, but it’s definitely also inimitable.

Convertible stayed a one-off

Only one copy of the New Beetle RSi can be obtained neither for money nor for good words: In 2003, Volkswagen built an RSi Cabrio that has the same performance data as the hatchback version. However, this car remains in the factory collection. At most, it will be brought out for special occasions or classic car shows such as the Techno Classica in Essen/Germany. What 225 hp and all-wheel drive feel like completely open, therefore, is known only to a few VW engineers at best. Even the 250 units of the normal New Beetle RSi that were built are rarely seen nowadays. However, we don’t know whether this is due to price developments or the owner’s shame.

Images: Volkswagen