A specially tuned Volkswagen Beetle has set a new speed record at the World of Speed event that has long been a tradition at Lake Bonneville in Utah, USA.
The Beetle LSR (Land Speed Record) with a turbocharged 2-litre direct-injection TSI petrol engine drove the fastest speed ever documented for a Beetle, reaching 328.195km/h over a distance of one mile (1.6 kilometres).
In order to reach top speeds of well over 300km/h, many aspects of the Beetle LSR had to be reworked, and the car was modified to conform to regulations for record drive attempts on salt flats.
The output of the 2-litre TSI 4-cylinder was boosted to a peak power of 550bhp by changes that included a new turbocharger, different pistons, camshafts, connecting rods and cylinder head modifications. The record-setting vehicle also stood out with an impressive torque peak of 571Nm.
To perform well under extreme conditions, the Beetle was equipped with special wheels and tyres for driving on salt, and the body was lowered significantly. A limited slip differential was also used to improve traction, while a safety package provided for the necessary protection – it consisted of a rollover protection cage, a race seat with five-point harness and a fire extinguishing system. In addition, the record-setting car had two brake parachutes that were used to slow itself down.
The performance was officially recorded at the driving record event sponsored by the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA), which is held every year in mid-summer. 
Read about a far less extreme Beetle mod job right here in Singapore.
Read about the record-breaking Renault that did 308.9km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956.
