Did you think it was a definitive goodbye? The Volkswagen New Beetle rises from its ashes thanks to ABT

The recent news that the iconic Volkswagen New Beetle was leaving us left the whole world heartbroken, as the German manufacturer decided not to create a direct successor to one of its most characteristic models. However, the legacy left by the last generation of the Beetle has served as a source of inspiration for those who have not been able to say goodbye to it, such as ABT. The famous tuner has used guinea pig the New Beetle with the aim of squeezing out every last drop of sportiness and personality.

ABT is well known for working with the various products of the VAG group, from the most modest to the most exclusive and, on this occasion, they have decided to pay a very special tribute to the New Beetle. As is customary, the changes made have altered both the aesthetics and the mechanics of the veteran Beetle, allowing its sportiness to be accentuated on all sides.

Despite the modifications applied by the German tuner, we can see that the essence of the Volkswagen New Beetle has been respected. On the one hand, we find a more pronounced and aggressive splitter and diffuser, with the aim of setting a series of changes compared to the standard version. But, without a doubt, the element that draws the most attention is the powerful 19-inch wheels with an exclusive design that house the six-piston brake calipers and the 370 x 35 mm discs.

However, the exterior is not the only thing that has improved, as the interior has been fitted with first-class materials such as leather and carbon fibre, two essential elements in a vehicle with a clearly sporty character. These materials are applied to both the dashboard and the centre console but, at the same time, ABT has made sure to offer a mechanical setup that matches the whole.

The engine chosen to boost performance is the 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder, which is capable of delivering 220 CV of power and 350 Nm of torque, performance figures that have earned it the honour of powering other models from the brand. However, ABT did not want to stop there, and decided to offer a better setup by pushing those figures up to 290 CV and 430 Nm of torque, something made possible thanks to the appropriate modifications to the ECU of the most radical New Beetle.

Without a doubt, ABT has managed to celebrate the legendary Beetle in every sense, extending its farewell at the same time and making it much more special without leaving any of its most loyal fans indifferent. For now we do not know the price of this modification but it will surely help keep the value of the New Beetle intact.