500HP Volkswagen Beetle achieves 330kph; sets new land speed record

Let’s face it Volkswagen’s cute Beetles may be tough, but they aren’t exactly fast — they started out as people carriers, after all. So what happens when a California tuner boosts its power up from 202hp to 535hp? Well, you get a really really fast Beetle that just broke a land speed record!  They’re round and the world loves them, but Beetle owners can now stand proud knowing that the good ol’ Volkswagen Beetle with uprated innards just broke a land speed record at the Utah Salt Flats.  The vehicle, labelled as the Beetle LSR (Land Speed Record), achieved a maximum speed of 335 kph with an average 330 kph across a one mile (1.6 km) stretch. This is a souped up Beetle indeed and is derived from a 2015 Turbo R Line model. California’s THR Manufacturing maintained the same engine but boosted the power to pump out a whopping 535.5 hp with a peak torque output of 571 Nm. Add a modified suspension to achieve a lowered stance and modified front air dam and you get the idea! This Beetle goes fast!  But since this is a governed by the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA), so there were plenty of restrictions to the mods. The car simply packed in an uprated turbocharger and modified pistons, but external modifications had to be kept to a bare minimum as exterior aids for aerodynamics are not permitted.  “We are completely thrilled with the Beetle LSR’s performance at Bonneville,” said Dr. Hendrik Muth, Senior Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “The Beetle is not the most aerodynamic car in our portfolio, so running 205 mph is a testament to the power that can be made from the EA888 TSI four-cylinder engine. This feat truly underscores the sporty and pugnacious spirit of the Beetle.”