2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR recalls the original bumblebee

Back in 1970, VW released the Beetle GSR. Limited to 3500 units, the “Yellow Black Racer” (Gelb Schwarzer Renner) looked remarkably like a bumblebee, and amassing just 50 hp, it produced about the same amount of power, too. For 2014 the bee returns, boasting the same yellow/black paint scheme, but a far more prominent powerplant.

While the yellow/black design is unique and striking, in person the yellow appears light and milky, like the designers ate a bad enchilada and threw up all over the design sheet. The vast use of matte black and large 19-inch alloy wheels do detract somewhat from the vomit-like colorings, but only in a way that reminds you how bad the yellow actually is.