Volkswagen America just announced the record for the fastest Volkswagen Beetle ever built. This VW Beetle, dubbed as the Beetle LSR (Land Speed Record), successfully exceed 205 MPH at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats and even needed a parachute to aid braking system.
Check out the not so slow VW Beetle here.
Slow No More
Volkwagen beetle is not really known for being a fast car. This is why the Volkswagen group created a yearly event that allows tuners around the globe to present a fast beetle and beat the previous record in 1998 when a 1955 model went 175 miles an hour. Official rules though limit how much a car can be altered and still be considered a Beetle so heavy tuners could not win.
Finally, after almost two decades, THR Manufacturing, a California company that installed new turbos, pistons, camshafts, connecting rods on popular cars, broke the previous record. Thus, made the VW Beetle LSR slow no more. What's really interesting about the modifed beetle is that unlike other tuned beetles, it preserves the original 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine block of the car, but the rest of the engine was modified to achieve the world record of the fastest beetle.
Although not specifically mentioned, it goes without saying that the LSR features a completely new transmission. It is also not known if it has remained a front - wheel drive only, which would be surprising given the power it uses but Volkswagen only mentioned that they installed a self - locking limited slip.
Preparation, as is obvious in these images, also includes a deep aerodynamic work on the basis of a Volkswagen Beetle series. The suspension has been lowered andalmost touch the ground. It has also been equipped with specific full fairing tires to gain traction.
An Experience To Be Remember
Piloted by Preston Lerner, a contributing editor for Automobile Magazine, the LSR achieve 600hp and exceeded 205mph. It was so fast that a parachute system was attached behind the car to ensure that it can stop relatively after having passed the 208 miles per hour. It also features a roll cage and anti-fire systems which made the Beetle safer.
"We had enough power to go even faster if the salt hadn't been so sketchy. But seeing 208 miles per hour briefly on the digital readout was an experience I'll never forget." Lerner said.
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