Return of the Super Beetle?
Fox Car Report's Gary Gastelu talks to Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross drivers Tanner Foust and Scott Speed about their new Beetle race car.
Chicago – Herbie is getting some competition.
Volkswagen is teaming up with Andretti Autosport to enter the Global RallyCross series with a pair of racing Beetles driven by two-time GRC champion Tanner Foust, and former NASCAR and Formula 1 driver Scott Speed.
The partnership was announced Thursday at the Chicago Auto Show, where the newly-formed Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team unveiled two mockups with bone-stock interiors and sporting Rockstar and 7-Up liveries.
VW cleverly added the Super Beetle nameplate to the cars, which will feature all-wheel-drive and turbocharged engines producing “at least” 560 hp in racing trim.
The actual competition cars are still in development, and the team will kick off the 10-race season in Barbados in May using existing cars based on the VW Polo subcompact sold overseas, but hopes to have the Beetle racers ready in time for the first U.S. race in Austin on June 7th.