The retro-style limited edition GSR version of the VW Beetle launches in the Europe and UK, honoring the original GSR that was launched 40 years ago. Just like its predecessor, the new car sports a black and yellow paint job, and is limited to 3,500 units, of which only 100 comes to the UK.
The highlight of this model is of course its paint job, consisting of matte black stripes on the bonnet, the roof, side mirrors, and engine cover, yellow painted bumpers in new R-Line design and a larger than standard yellow and black rear spoiler as well as GSR lettering on the side sills. The new car also gets a set of 19-inch ‘Tornado’ alloy wheels with 235/40 tyres.
Inside the cabin R-Line racing seats (with fabric covers and contrasting yellow stitching), a high-grip leather sports steering wheel (also with contrasting yellow stitching) and a badge with the car’s special-edition number (1 to 3,500). The car also boasts an R-Line dash pad, GSR gear stick, leather handbrake lever gaiter and black floor mats with contrasting yellow embroidery.
One area the 2013 GSR is much better than its legendary ancestor is performance. While the original only had 50 PS, the new kid boasts a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 210 PS and 280 Nm of torque, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 7.3 seconds.
As for the price, the Beetle GSR costs £24,900 for the manual, with a £1,500 premium for DSG.
