German manufacturer announces it will be partnering with Andretti Autosport to field a team of two turbocharged Beetles in the upcoming 2014 Global Rallycross season
Recasting the Beetle
The second generation VW Beetle (more precisely the New Beetle) was cute. Heck, it even came standard with a dash-mounted bud vase. But as far as Volkswagen is concerned, that New Beetle may have been too adorable as many male car buyers seem to have been turned off by its "cuteness" factor.
So when it came time for the third generation A5 version, VW went to great lengths to distance it from the New Beetle. The latest model is longer, lower and, most importantly, more aggressive.
Yet another step to further differentiate it from "cute" was taken at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show when Volkswagen announced that this year will mark the Beetle's entry into the Global Rallycross Championship racing series.
Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team
Yes, you heard it right. In conjunction with Andretti Autosport, Volkswagen will field two turbocharged Beetles in this year's Global Rallycross racing series (events in which entrants compete against each other – as well as against the clock - in a series of elimination heats. The closed courses are usually a mixture of dirt and tarmac plus a 70-foot jump).
Not only that, but the entries will be driven by a pair of well-known, successful drivers. The Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle will be driven by none other than Tanner Foust, GRC circuit champion in 2011 and 2012, while ex-Formula 1 and NASCAR driver Scott Speed (who won the first GRC race he entered in Brazil last year) will pilot the 7UP entry.
Calling the GRC Beetle the "ultimate version of the third-generation Volkswagen Beetle," both will feature more than 560 horsepower from their turbocharged and direct-injected TSI engines.
Although neither vehicle unveiled in Chicago will be ready for the first event – both are still undergoing testing – the short term will see Volkswagen fielding modified European VW Polos until the switch can be made to the Beetles during the course of the racing season.
Stay Tuned
One thing is certain: Volkswagen stated that "the definitive Beetle will be shown at the Summer X Games in Austin, Texas, this June."
According to Michael Horn, Volkswagen of America's President and CEO, Rallycross "is the perfect form of motor sports for a youthful, exuberant, and growing brand in the U.S. market. We're excited to partner with Andretti Autosport, one of the great names in American motor sports, and delighted that we will be running the iconic Beetle in the series."
