What's the news?

Volkswagen unveiled its limited edition Beetle GSR today at the Chicago Auto Show. The new model takes its inspiration from the Beetle 1303 S launched 40 years ago - and only 3,500 units are to be produced worldwide.

Exterior

The yellow and black colour scheme of the classic 1303 S has been carried forward to the GSR. The standard Beetle body is painted yellow; with the roof, bonnet, boot lid and door mirrors finished in matte black. The GSR also features a full R-Line body kit, and yellow and black stripes run front to back. To complete the GSR's distinct image, black 19-inch 'Tornado' alloy wheels have been fitted - a massive step forward from the 15-inch steelies used for the 40-year old classic.

Interior

The yellow and black theme continues when you step inside. The black sports seats, sports steering wheel, floor mats and handbrake grip all feature contrasting yellow stitching. R-Line badges adorn the dashboard; a bespoke GSR gear stick sits in the centre; and a plaque denoting the number of each individual car finishes off the additional interior flourishes.

We haven't been told exactly what equipment you can expect to find in the GSR; although we'd expect to see a lot of the Beetle's options boxes ticked for this version.

Mechanicals

A 2.0-litre turbocharged engine can be found under the bonnet of the GSR; linked to either a six-speed manual or six-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Output figures of 210hp and 280Nm of torque mean that the Beetle GSR can achieve 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 130mph.

Anything else?

While we know all the technical details of the Beetle GSR, one thing Volkswagen neglected to mention was the car's price. A standard top-spec Beetle will set you back somewhere in the region of £25,000, so we'd expect the GSR to be nearer the £30k mark. A UK release date has also yet to be announced, though it's expected that about 100 cars will be sold in Britain.

James Giddings - 7 Feb 2013