Tag: GRC Beetle

  • Andretti Rallycross Volkswagen Beetle GRC Delivers 544 Horsepower

    Andretti-Rallycross-Volkswagen-Beetle-GRC-THUMBAndretti Rallycross Volkswagen Beetle GRC is an eye-catching addition to the Global Rallycross series and more importantly it delivers the astonishing 544 horsepower. The car was revealed by Volkswagen’s Andretti Rallycross team and it will race later this year at the Red Bull Global Rallycross championship. It will be driven by Tanner Foust and Scott Speed. In fact, the team enters the third round of the season, and has already achieved two victories for Scott Speed driving the No. 7 7UP Volkswagen Polo.

    To be more precise, this Beetle is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder TSI turbocharged and intercooled engine, which makes the 544 horsepower (440 kW). This means that this Volkswagen will be very competitive. The Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle with the No. 34, boasts a unique appearance and includes state-of-the-art technology.

    This rallycross car is a pure expression of the third-generation Beetle. It is designed and engineered from the outset as a GRC car and includes a sequential six-speed transmission, with a fixed-ratio all-wheel-drive system. The latter features multiplate limited-slip differentials both at the front and rear.

    This Beetle utilizes all-around strut-type suspension, with ZF dampers and needs 9.1 inches of travel to cope with the rigors of the off-road portion. It also comes equipped with 14.0-inch diameter front and 11.8-inch rear vented disc brakes, four-piston aluminum calipers, and runs on 17-inch wheels shod with 240/640-R17 Yokohama competition tires.

    An outsize rear wing, widebody fenders, and aggressive front fascia is what defines the No. 34. The rallycross car has an overall length of 168.8 inches, and a width of 71.7 inches. It weighs 2668 pounds which mean that it perfectly complies with the series regulations. This combination of reduced weight, high horsepower, and all-wheel-drive traction, promises that we will see the Beetle GRC sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in an incredibly quick 2.1 seconds. Or just, this is what Volkswagen promises.

    Source: Volkswagen

  • Volkswagen GRC Beetle To Compete In Red Bull Global Rallycross

    Volkswagen-GRC-Beetle-THUMBVolkswagen and Andretti Sports Marketing have introduced more information about the 2014 Rallycross program. This included the reveal of a new vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The brand has announced also that it will run two cars in the series for drivers Tanner Foust and Scott Speed.

    At first, the team will compete with modified Polo rally cars, and later will switch during the season to the Volkswagen GRC Beetle. The latter is an all-wheel-drive rallycross car that is built upon the third-generation Beetle and will offer more than 560 horsepower (412 kW) from its turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engine.

    If you haven’t heard about the Rallycross, well here some info: this is the fastest growing form of motorsports in the United States. The cars which are competing are pitted against each other and the clock in a series of heats on a closed course that’s usually a mixture of dirt and pavement, with a 70-foot jump. What attracts the most is that the action is fast and intense.

    Tanner Foust, as mentioned, will sit behind the steering wheel of the Beetle. He is a 2011 and 2012 GRC champion and runner-up in 2013. Foust is also famous for hosting the U.S. version of Top Gear and for his rally driving skills.

    The other driver to take part in the rally is Scott Speed, who will be racing the 7UP entry. Speed has competed at the very pinnacle of motorsports, driving Formula 1 for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2006 and 2007. He also participated in NASCAR between 2008 and 2013.

    Red Bull Global Rallycross series begins in May, where a pair of Polo cars driven by Foust and Speed will be competing. The definitive Volkswagen GRC Beetle will appear at the X Games in June.

    Source: Volkswagen