New Beetle R concept

Tasty!!

From motortrend.com; “Volkswagen can say the 2012 Beetle is more masculine until its blue in the face, but the Beetle will always have that stigma of being driven by those who actually used the standard flower vase found in the last-generation New Beetle. That’s where VW’s R division came in at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where it showed off the decidedly-masculine Beetle R Concept. Built by the same people responsible for the Scirocco R and Golf R, this is the first time the Beetle R has been shown off in North America.

You know you’re looking at one tough bug the second you see the Beetle R. Shown in “Serious Grey” (yes that’s the official name of the V-dub’s paint scheme); the Beetle R is all flares, arches, and intakes. The visual steroid injection is backed up by the Golf R and Scirocco R’s 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 under the hood. While VW is mum on power output, the all-wheel drive Golf R makes due with 256-hp so if the front-drive Beetle R were to reach production, it would have to slot in below VW’s new halo car.

One thing that should help the Beetle R’s case for production is that there’s a hole in Volkswagen’s lineup between the GTI and Golf R where the Scirocco R would go if it were offered in the United States. While VW was mum when we asked about the Beetle R reaching production, we think a 225-or-so-hp Bug would fit nicely into the U.S. lineup, and do much to increase the Beetle’s appeal to those with a taste for a more red-blooded driving experience.”

More pics here;
http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/los_angeles/2011/1111_volkswagen_beetle_r_concept/