Volkswagen is now sending its limited edition Volkswagen Beetle GSR over the pond to the United States of America, hoping the more people there would like its bumblebee paint job and extra equipment. The GSR, paying homage to its namesake from the 70s, is limited to 3,500 units worldwide.
VW must have thought they can sell all of it in Europe, but apparently it hasn’t been very popular. I mean just look at it. What kind of message are sending out about yourself driving around in a bumblebee Beetle? So the GSR is now coming to the U.S., sporting a price tag of $29,995 for models equipped with a six-speed manual, and $31,095 for the ones fitted with the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic.
The ridiculous paint job aside, the GSR is a pretty serious bit of kit underneath. It is powered by the EA888 turbocharged and direct-injection 2.0-liter TSI like the one you get in the Golf GTI, developing 210 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 in 6.6 seconds and can reach a top speed of 130 mph.
The car also comes with the R-Line equipment package, including Fender Premium Audio System; a panoramic sunroof; the RNS 315 navigation system; Keyless access with push-button start; Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRLs; LED license-plate lighting; heatable front seats; Bluetooth connectivity; a Media Device Interface (MDI) with iPod cable; three-color ambient lighting; aluminum-alloy-look pedals; and three auxiliary instruments that include a clock with a stopwatch function and a boost gauge.
So if you decided you can live with the yellow-and-black color scheme, large rear spoiler, and 19-inch “Tornado” aluminum-alloy wheels, the GSR is a good car.
