VIDEO: Vintage VW Bug with Subaru STI power is a hybrid we can get excited about
Subaru WRX STI-powered Volkswagen Beetle - Click above to watch the video after the break
Somehow, we doubt this is what Dr. Ferdinand Porsche had in mind when he set out to design a horizontally-opposed four cylinder engine powering the rear wheels of his so-called "People's Car." No matter, we're happy to see the good ol' Beetle is still getting its due after all these years, in this case courtesy of a worked-over turbocharged 2.5-liter engine making over 350 horsepower yanked from a Subaru WRX STI.
As you might imagine, this little bugger of a powerplant has no problem moving its rounded Volkswagen wrapper at warp speed. While some may bemoan the lack of the donor car's all-wheel drive powertrain, the Beetle's rear-mounted engine placement and super short gearing equals loads of traction, making for an excellent drag racing platform.
Fortunately, the rest of the package has been appropriately beefed up and customized to handle the Beetle's newfound power. Modifications include a narrowed and dropped front beam, four-wheel disc brakes, a heavy-duty clutch, wide rear rubber and a touchscreen digital dash enabling on-the-fly tuning adjustments. Check out the gallery below and hit the jump for a couple of videos.
Gallery: Subaru STI-powered VW Beetle
[Source: Caradisiac]
VIDEOS:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
FotoGenetix 8:08PM (8/26/2009)
what a beast, when was the last time Germans and Japanese joined forces...oh yeah.
this should be made into a kit called the Axis mod.
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tuna 8:09PM (8/26/2009)
LOL.
The Hit 2:25AM (8/29/2009)
Sir, you win internets!
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karsten 9:37PM (8/26/2009)
hahahaha
timwang2006 10:24PM (8/26/2009)
Throwing in some Italian styling and this would be perfect.
bhtooefr 12:18AM (8/27/2009)
TimWang: So you're saying do it to a Karmann Ghia?
Turall 8:09PM (8/26/2009)
It burns gas and rubber...that's MY kind of hybrid!
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Dru 8:12PM (8/26/2009)
The best part has to be the luggage rack that is still on top of it....
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Fooman 9:52PM (8/26/2009)
Agreed looks so perfect on this car!
Farris 8:17PM (8/26/2009)
A buddy of mine has a 73 VW Type 2 with a JDM STi engine. You wanna talk about a scary ride... how about a VW Van going 0 to 60 in about 9 to 10 seconds, and walking all over the road due to the "unique" steering mechanism of the bus!
I took a video a while back of it. I'll have to find it and upload it to Youtube.
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adrenalnjunky 10:47AM (8/27/2009)
You should check out the Race Taxi - http://www.race-taxi.ch/facts.htm
Porsche 993 Turbo running gear & suspension under a VW Bus.
Jason 8:23PM (8/26/2009)
The thing I love about this car is all the Porsche stuff. I don't generally think about VW's and Porsches in the same breath so the combination is surprising. I'm also surprised how much better the car looks afterward. I like Beetles, but damn. And at the end of the second video "wheelstand suspension to come"....standing wheelie v-dub? Now that I'd like to see.
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Zeph 8:39PM (8/26/2009)
The beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche. It's no coincidence that, if you look at it, you see the same platform as the first porsches (356 I believe) and the 911. It's the same engineering! One was adapted for hitler's people car (hence the birth of the name volkswagen) and the other was Porsche's own efforts at performance with sports cars, which ultimately got us the 911. The most iconic sports car was born out of the most popular car.
They literally came from the same breath. Sorry for the patronising history lesson, but you walked into it!
montoym 11:47AM (8/27/2009)
If you want to see wheelstanding Vdubs?
Search Youtube for beetle drag racing vids. It's a pretty common occurance with many of the truly quick cars.
Peter 3:17AM (8/29/2009)
Pfft....allready been done!
http://www.geocities.com/lovebugfans/moviecars/miller02.jpg
fmwso 8:26PM (8/26/2009)
I like the whole idea, but I just hate this song.... so stupid!!!!
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Rich 10:29AM (8/27/2009)
Well I heartily disagree with you there. Good choice.
The super-wide wheels make it look a bit foolish. It makes it look like it should be faster yet. Nice work though.
geoff 11:40AM (8/27/2009)
I agree, that was the worst music ever! I couldn't watch the video without muting the speakers. I kept un-muting it to see if there was any useful commentary or sounds of the car, but it was nothing but that angry hollering and bad guitar work. Ugh.
fixitfixitstop 3:02PM (8/27/2009)
I realize Clutch isn't for everybody, but I'd rather hear that song than Slipknot or Linkin Park or some other equally annoying Nu Metal stuff.
Carlos 8:33PM (8/26/2009)
That car is f*cking wicked! It's rear camber goes full retard under acceleration though rofl!
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