Ultra-rare ‘high performance’ Volkswagen Beetle RSI sells for £63k
A VW Beetle RSi, with just 12,000 miles on the clock, has sold at auction for a whopping £63,000.
Listed on Collecting Cars, the ad states the vehicle is a "remarkably rare limited-edition hot hatch, boasting a strong service history and very low mileage from new".
The little hatchback has done just 12,000 miles since it rolled off the production line in 2001, just two years before the model was discontinued.
The RSi features heated orange leather-trimmed carbon-fibre Recaro bucket seats, carbon-fibre door panels, billet aluminium trim, and a cross brace behind the rear seats.
The 1.4 litre engine used in the standard version has been replaced with a tuned-up 3.2 litre V6, bumping the top speed up from 115mph to 140mph via a hefty 223 horsepower.
Only 250 RSi cars were made in the limited edition run - and they were only sold in the European, Mexican and Japanese markets between 2001 and 2003.
Amazingly, when it launched it cost around £35,000, the equivalent of £62,000, which was almost double the price of a Porsche Boxster at the time.