There are a few cars that can stand out on the road as the VW Beetle RSI, the fastest version of the New Beetle that was produced in a limited number of 250 units between 2001 and 2003.
A pristine example of this crazy machine is listed for sale on eBay UK with a price tag of £45,000 ($62,335). Besides the obvious visual modifications differentiating it from any other Beetle, including the fully redesigned bodykit, double rear spoiler, and 18-inch OZ Superturismo wheels, the RSI came with a sporty suspension and chassis setup, uprated brakes, Remus exhaust, and a more powerful engine.
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Under the bonnet, there is VW’s naturally aspirated 3.2-liter VR6 engine also found in the Golf R32 that in this case produces 224 hp (165 kW / 224 PS) and 320 Nm (lb-ft) of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and the 4Motion all-wheel drive system, allowing for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph).
Inside, the beautiful Recaro bucket seats are upholstered in orange leather and the details from carbon fiber and billet aluminum will make sure no passenger mistakes it for a regular Beetle.
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This specific VW Beetle RSI had a single previous owner and has traveled 17,500 miles (28,163 km) since new. It is 100% stock and comes with a full service history. From the pictures, it looks like it is in decent condition considering it is almost two decades old.
While owning a rare vehicle like that is undeniably cool, paying $60K for a Golf-based model feels kind of weird. The seller, who also owns a VW Golf R32 and a Mini Cooper, believes that the RSI will go up in value, even though currently it is listed for less money compared to its original price which was around $80,000 back in the early ’00s.