But has the limit been found? The aftermarket has taken the the "limit" out a lot further than VW ever did (hence the thread you'll find elsewhere on VW trying to stop or cash-in on this market - I think I'd better start referring to my car as "the car previously known as a beetle.") As for the shape, I think the "new beetle" attempt to imitate the original was rather pathetic - a true new beetle would keep the ideal of the original while taking on the modern advances in engineering - Franz Xavier Reimspiess certainly didn't try to imitate an older car, neither did Ferdinand Porsche!
it has its limits in that:
-the VW aftermarket has some good stuff in it and a boatload amount of crap in it. Only street engines, or streetable parts are relevant to this discussion, sure rod penrose can get 500hp from a type 1 engine but that car has to be trailered, its engine life is probably estimated in minutes and it doesn't use any factory parts for any major components.
-try making a type 1 engine put out 200hp, make it driveable, not too noisy, fuel efficient, not overheat in hot weather in racing, live 200 000km's and cost less than a small fortune.
better modern engines are capable of this, which a type 1 engine can only dream of. A type 4 can sort of come closer but it still is essentially the same basic design as a type 1. Considering u can get a EJ20T for a couple of grand and a decent hot type 4 costs about $6000+....
i still want a type 4 because i like aircooled 🙂 It doesnt seem to make sense if you think about it in $$$/kW terms, but i just happen to like aircooling for other reasons such as originality and sound, looks etc.
