A specially-tuned Volkswagen Beetle has set a new speed record at the World of Speed event that has long been a tradition at Lake Bonneville in Utah (USA). The Beetle LSR (Land Speed Record) with a turbocharged 2.0-litre direct-injection engine (TSI) drove the fastest speed ever documented for a Beetle, reaching 328.195 km/h (205.122 mph) over a distance of one mile.
In order to reach top speeds well over 300 km/h, many aspects of the Beetle LSR were reworked, and the car was modified to conform to regulations for record drives on salt flats. The output of the 2.0-litre TSI was boosted to a peak power of 550 PS (by changes that included a new turbocharger, different pistons, camshafts, connecting rods and cylinder head modifications). The record-setting vehicle also stands out with an impressive torque of 571 Newton metres.
