This seemingly ordinary Volkswagen Beetle hides a secret under the hood: powerful modifications that gave it an impressive 600 horsepower.
The blue Beetle shown here features a three-phase asynchronous electric motor, a project carried out by the team at Knepper Bugs & More, a German restoration shop specializing in Beetles, according to information from the website Motor 1.
The project began with a 1975 Beetle that Rüdiger Knepper and his son René found in a junkyard in California. The car’s body was badly damaged, but the structure was solid, making it an excellent candidate for restoration.
During the restoration process, nearly all parts were replaced or reworked. The body was brought back to a near-original shape and finished in a Marathon Blue shade.
The car also received other subtle upgrades, such as wider carbon-fiber rear fenders and a carbon-fiber roof spoiler that not only looks good but also adds more stability at high speeds.
From a technical standpoint, this little Beetle is practically a Porsche. Its suspension is largely borrowed from a Porsche 944, while the brakes come from the 944 Turbo S, with Porsche 964 discs up front.
Grip is provided by Toyo Proxes TR-1 tires—195/45R17 at the front and 235/45R17 at the rear—mounted on Porsche Cup 2 wheels.
The Beetle also features 17 battery modules from a Porsche Taycan, powering a rear-axle motor from a Tesla Model S Performance, slightly modified for voltage.
The setup sends power directly to the wheels through Porsche 930 drive shafts, eliminating the need for a gearbox.
This modification gave it an astonishing 601 horsepower and 702 Nm of torque. With that in mind, the modified blue Beetle can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds and has a driving range between 100 and 250 km.
Unfortunately, with these specifications, it is reserved for track use. That’s because, according to TÜV regulations, cars without traction control can only be driven on public roads if they have no more than 200 hp.
Inside, the cockpit has remained largely original. The clutch and gear lever have disappeared, replaced by a digital control panel for the electric powertrain.
Meanwhile, Recaro seats from a BMW 2002 provide greater comfort and lateral support, and heating comes from an electric unit under the rear seat.
Most of the hardware modifications were carried out by Rüdiger, while the electronic control systems were handled by Alexander Lührmann and his team at ESDI EV Technologies.
It was presented by Rüdiger in May of this year during a four-week “tour” that passed through Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg.
The Beetle also completed an impressive 8,000 km journey to catch the ferry from Seville to Tangier, Morocco. Throughout this trip, it did not experience a single technical issue.
Photos: Knepper Bugs & More. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
