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VW Beetle RSi - Special Beetle

Name: VW Beetle RSi 2002
Brand: VW

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Created on January 23, 2023

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Volkswagen AG

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Volkswagen AG

Archiv

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - attractive six-cylinder music sounds from the two exhaust pipes

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - a king of the highway

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the rear wing is a striking detail

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - almost like any other Beetle

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the front apron and the overall width distinguish it from the rest of the New Beetle from the front

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - full road holding

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - wide track optics

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - it quickly pulls away

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - a lot has changed in 50 years

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - View of the interior

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - large airbag steering wheel

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - note the gearshift indicator behind the steering wheel

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Oil pressure, oil temperature and charge level as additional instruments in the center console

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - View through the tailgate into the interior

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Center console with switches from the shelf

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Speedometer up to 280 km/h

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Leather for the bucket seats

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - elegant buttons for unlocking the backrests

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Console of the bucket seat

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the small gearshift for the 6-speed gearbox

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Audio control installed in the roof

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - sporty look of the door panels

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the windows are still rolled down by hand, but with elegant aluminum cranks

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the loudspeakers also have an aluminum look

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - VR6 engine installed transversely and far forward

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the VR6 engine with around 224 hp

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - VR6 engine with 3.2 liter displacement

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - only the RSi had a six-cylinder engine

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - pretty well filled engine compartment

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - everything nice and tidy in the engine compartment

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - Headlights without xenon

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - elegant door handles

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - refueling on the right rear side

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - large rear lights

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - big differences between the Beetle of yore and the RSi

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - looks sporty from every angle

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - beautiful alloy wheels with 235-40/18 tires

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - thick exhaust tailpipes

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the exhaust system came from Remus

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - this is where the music comes out

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - everything goes in width

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the rear wing also protects the trademark from rain

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the striking rear wing

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the rear spoiler can also be misused as a shelf

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the rear spoiler is always dominant

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the VW sign at the rear

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - the VW sign at the rear can be turned, underneath is the opener for the trunk lid

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VW Beetle RSi (2002) - there's not a huge amount of space in the trunk

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - successor to the Beetle designed in America

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - first concept car as a harbinger of the New Beetle

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - the silhouette is immediately reminiscent of the original Beetle

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - with the curves of the original Beetle

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - designed in America

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - the electric drivetrain

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - TDI with Ecomatgic

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VW Concept 1 (1994) - hybrid electric-diesel powertrain

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VW New Beetle (1997) - production model in red

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VW New Beetle (2000) - at the Detroit Motor Show in 2000

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VW New Beetle (2000) - in the VW Beetle Cup

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VW New Beetle (2003) - in the New Beetle Cup

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Summary

With 224 hp, the VW Beetle RSi was the most powerful series-produced "Beetle" of its era; with 250 units produced, it remained rare. It anticipated the Golf R32 and can still be seen today as the pinnacle of Beetle history. This driving report is dedicated to one of the rare examples and shows it in historical and current photo material.

This article contains the following chapters

Long and successful Beetle history
The retro design relaunch
Even more retro design
From show car to small series
Always silver

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

This must have been roughly how the DTM racing drivers felt in the nineties. Yes, you sit relatively low and far away from the windshield. The bucket seats prevent lateral movements and the acoustics promise powerful propulsion. The VW New Beetle RSI is ready to go and ready for the next spurt. Although nominally "only" 225 hp is distributed to all four wheels, the forward thrust is impressive. Your gaze takes in the two large round instruments behind the steering wheel and lingers on the gearshift indicator with its LEDs. Green means keep turning, the two orange and, at the latest, the red diode remind you to shift up.

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