The yellow and black theme connects old with the new.
In an attempt to cash in on nostalgia, Volkswagen revived the Gelb Schwarzer Renner or “Yellow Black Racer,” with a touch of horsepower added at the Chicago Auto Show now underway.
Instead of the 50 horsepower of the original GSR, the latest edition is rated at 210 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque. This – in road translation – means an acceleration time from zero to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. The VW toy has an electronically governed top speed of 130 mph.
The limited edition GSR will be sold out after VW pedals 3,500. However, the 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine will also be in Jetta GLI and Beetle Turbo during the 2013 model year, upping their horsepower by 10.
The body of the original 1973 Beetle was painted yellow, while the hood, trunk, and bumpers were finished in matte black. The look was complemented with black trim strips underneath the side windows and black rocker panels, the styling cliché of the day. The yellow and black theme connects old with the new. The body and bumpers on the 2014 model GSR are predominantly yellow, the hood is mainly black, and the trunk lid, roof, and the exterior mirror caps are all black.
The revived GSR also has yellow/black stripes with “GSR” lettering above the side skirts and a large rear spoiler to complete the overblown look. The stance is broader, with 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P235/40 tires, compared with the original GSR’s 15-inch steel wheels and 175-section-width tires.
The GSR is based on the Beetle Turbo Sunroof and Sound model, so it comes with a Fender audio system, the sunroof, keyless access with push-button start, bi-xenon headlights, heated front seats, Bluetooth connectivity, a Media Device Interface with an iPod cable, among other items. There are also three-color ambient lighting, aluminum-alloy pedals, and three auxiliary instruments that include a clock with a stopwatch function and a boost gauge.
The standard GSR has a six-speed manual transmission; a dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission is optional.The Volkswagen Beetle GSR will go on sale in the fall as a 2014 model. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
