At first glance, this is the kind of car your grandmother would drive to church on Sunday. It looks cute, nostalgic, and completely harmless in its Marathon Blue paint. But when the driver steps on the pedal, there's no such thing as the characteristic roar of an air-cooled boxer engine. There's silence, smoke from under the tires, and acceleration that should be illegal.
Let's be honest. Converting classic cars to electric is a divisive topic. Purists tear their hair out and scream "heresy" while tech enthusiasts applaud. But when you look at the Knepper 1303 RS-E, you have to admit that sometimes - just sometimes - electrics deliver something that gasoline never could in this package: pure madness.
This is not just a restored Beetle. This is an engineering Frankenstein, assembled from the best parts of automotive history and the future. Beneath that classic silhouette are not rusty pistons, but a modern three-phase asynchronous electric motor. And not just any. The heart of this monster comes from Tesla Model S Performance, and draws energy from the Porsche Taycan's 17 battery modules.
Numbers that sound like a printing press gnome
If I told you this Beetle had 448 kW (601 hp) and 702 Nm (518 lb-ft) of torque, you'd ask me what I was smoking. But the numbers are real. Rüdiger Knepper, the brainchild behind the company, has created a vehicle that defies physics.
“Today we are in standard mode with around 200 horses,” explains Rüdiger.
Why? Because without traction control, all 600 horsepower in a short-wheelbase car means you'll end up in the nearest tree before you can say "electricity." For driving on public roads, the power is limited to a legally and TÜV-approved 149 kW (200 hp). But even that's enough to make most modern hot-hatch hatchbacks laugh at the traffic lights.
But when the car comes off the chain – say on a racetrack – this thing hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in a mere 2.9 seconds. Yes, you read that right. That’s faster than it takes you to read this sentence. A bug. In 2.9 seconds. This is McLaren and Lamborghini territory.
From California wasteland to engineering marvel
The story begins romantically, almost cinematically. Rüdiger and his son René found the base, a 1975 VW 1303, at a junkyard in California. The body was battered but structurally sound – the perfect canvas for something wild. During the restoration, they replaced or reworked almost every bolt.
The exterior remains true to the original, with a few ominous details. The wider carbon rear fenders and carbon roof spoiler aren't just there for show; at the speeds this car reaches, you need all the stability you can get.
Under the hood, however, it's a different story. To make the Beetle capable of handling this brutal power, the chassis was borrowed from the Porsche 944. Components came from KW, Bilstein and Kerscher. The brakes? These are from a Porsche 944 Turbo S, with discs from a 964 up front. Because, believe me, when you're flying in a Beetle at 200 km/h, you want to stop.
Grip is provided by Toyo Proxes TR-1 tires – 195/45R17 up front and a hefty 235/45R17 at the rear, mounted on Porsche Cup 2 rims. Power is transmitted directly to the wheels via Porsche 930 driveshafts. A gearbox? Who needs one. The electric torque is immediate and brutal.
Is this even useful?
Ironically, this 600-horsepower monster is surprisingly civilized. Rüdiger proved its everyday utility with a four-week journey through Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg. The highlight? A ferry ride from Seville to Tangier in Morocco. In total, the electric Beetle covered almost 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) – without a single technical problem.
Range? Depends on how heavy your legs are. The battery provides between 100 and 250 kilometers (62 and 155 miles) of driving. Charging is possible via a fast CCS connector or standard AC with a simple adapter. It's not exactly for crossing continents without stopping, but for a "weekend toy" it's more than enough.
The interior remains spartan but functional. The clutch and gear lever are gone, replaced by a digital dashboard. The Recaro seats from the BMW 2002 offer the lateral support you desperately need when G-forces press you against the backrest.
Conclusion: Why do we need such cars?
The 1303 RS-E is the answer to a question no one asked, but we're all glad it exists. It's proof that the electric future doesn't have to be sterile and boring. It can be wild, dangerous and full of character.
The price of such a conversion? If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. But the value of this car is not in euros or dollars. It's in the expression on the Ferrari driver's face when he's "washed" at the traffic lights by a blue Beetle. This is motoring with a soul, albeit without a piston. And although I'm a cynic to the core, I admit it - I would drive in this Beetle with a smile from ear to ear. This is the best proof that the passion for cars is not going to die, it's just changed its source of energy.
What about you? Would you dare to get behind the wheel of this “electric chair” on wheels?
