While waiting politely for a pedestrian to clear the intersection, this car received a wide grin and a giant wave from a woman wearing industrial welding goggles. She looked a bit like a bee. So does this.
It's the Beetle GSR, a special edition version of Volkswagen's Turbo Beetle that's a real honey of a car. Take that comment literally - this machine really does look like it was hatched in a hive.
The name comes from a tribute to the 1973 Gelb-Schwartz Renner (Yellow-Black Racer), a similarly bumblebee-shaded machine that is so famous, you never heard about it until just now when I mentioned it. Sold only in the German home market, it had 50 horsepower from an aircooled 1.6-litre engine and slightly larger wheels and tires - no Muhammad Ali here.
Still, for the time the car was fairly nippy, and marked a change for the humble people's car from modest little fuel-sipper to unlikely performance hero.
This new version has 210 turbocharged horses to draw on: is it all buzz, or is there a sting in the new GSR's tail?
Design
The previous generation of front-wheel-drive Beetle was very popular, but might have been accused of being a bit cutesy in its homage to the sturdy, no-nonsense original. I mean, a flower vase next to the steering wheel? That's a bit much.
However, when VW decided to drop the turbocharged four-cylinder engine out of the GTI into the car, those cute looks were suddenly hilarious. Here was a car from the Care Bear/My Little Pony school that was perfectly capable of dusting off the hot hatchbacks of the day.
The new car is much less saccharine-sweet, with an extended profile that gives it something of the look of a Porsche. All GSRs get the cosmetic upgrades of the R-Line cars, which means aerodynamic trim, including a large spoiler, and 19-inch alloys shod in wide, 235-series rubber.
There's also LED strip lighting up front, and in case you missed the point, an all-over yellow-andblack graphics package that includes GSR proudly emblazoned on the flanks. If you don't like getting attention, this is the wrong car for you (happily, the ordinary R-Line Turbo Beetle packs most of the same features in a less showy carapace).
Environment
If yellow stitching on a flat-bottomed steering wheel can really be considered tasteful, then the inside of the GSR is more tasteful than the exterior. It's actually quite reserved in here, and you might never know it was a limited-run model - except that VW has helpfully written that fact on the steering wheel.
Just 3,500 GSRs will be sold worldwide. With the original car, all were gone in just two months. In Canada, fewer than 100 will be imported, so perhaps the rarity value is worth something.
As far as the rest of the interior goes, this is essentially just an R-Line Beetle with a few extra badges. You get comfortable, great-looking seats that don't provide quite enough lateral support as compared to a GTI, a very VW-looking dash layout, and a multigauge pod. Where the regular Turbo Beetle gets a neat carbon-fibre trim, this car gets matte-finish treatment to most of the surfaces, and the aforementioned yellow stitching everywhere.
This particular version was equipped with the Beetle's Technology package, which adds satellite navigation and an eightspeaker-plus-subwoofer Fender-branded premium audio. This last works great for cleaning out your ears because it can and will melt your earwax. The navigation is very slightly out of date compared to upcoming systems from Chrysler and Ford.
While the Beetle's shape does limit headroom and would send most young parents tut-tutting and heading for a five-door GTI or a GLI instead, it's actually not all that bad for short distances. A child seat does (barely) fit, and an adult passenger could endure a short lift across town.
Essentially, owning this car requires something of a sense of humour, both inside and out. And, speaking of giggles, let's talk about what's under the hood.
Performance
Ten more horsepower. That's all I'm asking VW, just 10 more horsies to give this blazing-yellow Bug some genuine performance credentials over and above the regular Turbo Beetle. No dice.
Still, the original GSR didn't have any more punchbuggy than the 1600 Beetle it was based on, so perhaps tradition is being upheld. Besides which, this isn't really a car about winning races - this is a car designed around the concept of having a bit of a laugh.
Two transmissions are on offer, a six-speed manual that's a bit more engaging, or a $1,400 six-speed dualclutch gearbox that adds stop and go practicality without losing much of the fun. The 210 h.p., 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo is the same venerable mill that's found throughout the VW lineup. It's responsive and grunty, and makes a really good noise.
If we're being cruel, the GSR is about five per cent worse than a normal GTI in every measurable physical dynamic. The steering is just that bit less engaging, the brakes are just a bit squishier, the handling is a bit disturbed by the higher roofline. Then there's the choppy ride of those 19-inch alloys, which look great and stick well on smooth sweepers, but aren't really a performance advantage. There's a reason the top dog Golf R rides on 18-inch rims.
So, if you've got a racing helmet with a VW sticker on it, then maybe you're best off sticking with the GTI, particularly the new one coming later this year which is simply excellent. But what if you just want to have a bit of fun?
Here, the GSR becomes an out-and-out hoot. Because it's so bright and cheery - and attractive to police officers - you don't really drive it aggressively, but just with a bit of fizz from the punchy turbo engine, and a wave out the window. If someone in a more-powerful Focus ST wants to stoplight race you, then just roll your eyes and let them go - the GSR isn't built for would-be Vin Diesels.
Instead, it's easy to drive, with much better sightlines than the old car, excellent grip on long sweeping corners, and a comfortable, upright driving position. It's not a serious car, but the world is full of serious cars stuck in traffic. At least with this bright yellow package, you'll gather a smiling wave or two, rather than a scowl.
Features
As mentioned, the GSR is a trim beyond a fully loaded top-of-the-line R-Line Turbo Beetle, so you get 19-inch alloys, full leather interior, Bluetooth handsfree, heated seats, bi-Xenon headlamps, etc., etc.
Aside from choosing which transmission you want for your waggle-dance, the only option on the GSR package is the Technology bundle. This includes satellite navigation and the powerful Fender stereo for $1,090 - not bad.
Fuel economy for VW's four-pot turbo isn't bad either, with official ratings of 9.0 litres/100 kilometres city and 6.5 l/100 km on the highway. Like any other turbocharged vehicle, you'll struggle to hit those figures if you drive the car as it's meant to be driven, but VW is often closer than most.
Green light
Nice interior; sense of fun; responsive engine and transmission; unique appeal.
Stop sign No better dynamically than regular Turbo Beetle; stiff ride; slightly compromised handling.
The checkered flag
Buzzy, but in the good way.
Competitor Nissan Juke Nismo RS ($28,298)
Well, why not? If we're talking about weird, insectoid cars, then Nissan's Juke has to come into the discussion. This version, the Nismo RS, is just about the oddest Japanese car you can buy in Canada.
Its 1.6-litre engine punches out 215 h.p., five more than the VW from less displacement. You can also get the car with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, if you're willing to drop the manual transmission for a CVT instead, but the RS model is only available as a frontdriver.
With upgraded brakes, a tightened suspension and a willing chassis, the Juke is a bona fide performance car. It's no retro-ride either, but looks like a time traveller from a distant future. Sure, it's a bit ugly, but that's just another word for unique. mcaleeronwheels@gmail.com
