This Unassuming Volkswagen Beetle Packs 600 Horsepower. Here's How It Happened

Officially dubbed the Knepper 1303 RS-E, this classic Beetle packs a serious electric punch.

Knepper Bugs & More: Project RS-E

Photo by: Knepper Bugs & More

By: Roland Hildebrandt

Translated by: Jeff Perez

Dec 12, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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At first glance, this Marathon Blue Volkswagen Beetle 1303 looks pretty normal. But when you take a closer look, you can tell it's something special. Without a hint of engine noise, the rear wheels spin up, tire smoke billows, and tiny bits of rubber spray across the asphalt. It's a monster.

The source of this spectacle isn’t an air-cooled boxer engine, but a modern three-phase asynchronous electric motor. For purists, that might sound like heresy—can you really do that to a Beetle? But from the builders’ point of view, it’s the perfect fusion of an iconic classic with cutting-edge electric-drive technology.

Rüdiger Knepper, owner of Knepper Bugs & More, explains: "Today we’re in standard mode with around 200 horsepower." The Beetle, officially named the 1303 RS-E, delivers 601 horsepower and 518 pound-feet of torque. But without traction control, those figures are reserved for the track. On public roads, a TÜV-approved limit of 200 hp applies. Even so, the car’s acceleration is fierce: the power comes on smoothly but relentlessly, launching the Beetle forward with a catapult-like punch.

The project began with a 1975 VW 1303 that Rüdiger and his son René found in a California junkyard. The car’s body was badly damaged, but structurally it was sound—perfect for the RS-E build. During the restoration, nearly every part was replaced or reworked. The body was brought back to near-original shape and finished in Marathon Blue, with subtle upgrades like wider carbon rear fenders and a carbon roof spoiler that not only looks good but adds high-speed stability.

Knepper Bugs & More: Project RS-E

Knepper Bugs & More: Project RS-E

Photo by: Knepper Bugs & More

Underneath, almost everything is new: the suspension is largely borrowed from a Porsche 944, paired with components from KW, Bilstein, and Kerscher. The brakes come from the 944 Turbo S, with Porsche 964 discs up front. Grip is provided by Toyo Proxes TR-1 tires—195/45R17 in front and 235/45R17 in the rear—mounted on Porsche Cup 2 wheels.

The bug features 17 battery modules from a Porsche Taycan, feeding a rear-axle motor from a Tesla Model S Performance, slightly modified for voltage. The setup sends it power directly to the wheels via Porsche 930 drive shafts—no gearbox needed.

In ideal conditions, the RS-E sprints to 62 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds. Depending on driving style, the range varies between 62 and 155 miles (100 and 250 kilometers). Charging is possible via CCS or standard AC using an adapter.

Knepper RS-E

Knepper Bugs & More: Project RS-E

Photos by: Knepper Bugs & More

Rüdiger installed the hardware himself, while the electronic control systems were handled by Alexander Lührmann and his team at ESDI EV Technologies in Herford.

Inside, the cockpit remains mostly original. The clutch and gear lever are gone, replaced by a digital control panel for the electric drivetrain. Recaro seats from a BMW 2002 offer comfort and lateral support, and heating comes from an electric unit under the rear bench.

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Rüdiger proved the car’s everyday practicality in May during a four-week road trip through Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg. The highlight: taking the ferry from Seville to Tangier, Morocco. In total, the electric Beetle covered nearly 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers)—without a single technical issue.

This story originally comes from Motor1 Germany.

Knepper Bugs & More: Project RS-E