{"id":147287,"date":"2026-04-07T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T11:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=147287"},"modified":"2026-04-06T23:34:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T04:34:26","slug":"1975-beetle-with-a-600-hp-electric-motor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=147287","title":{"rendered":"1975 Beetle with a 600+ hp Electric Motor"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

Knepper Bugs & More<\/a> specializes in Volkswagen Beetles at their company in Rahden, Germany. They found their next project 5,700 miles away in California. They shipped the tired 1975 Volkswagen Beetle 1303 back to Germany where Knepper converted it to electric. <\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

In the back they swapped a Tesla Model S Performance drive unit capable of 604 hp (450 kW) and 702 Nm (517 lb-ft) of torque with Porsche 930 axles. Power is kept in a 48 kWh battery pack from a Porsche Taycan. The combo gives the car a range of 250 km (155 miles) and 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds.<\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

Knepper upgraded the car’s handling with KW Variant 3 coilovers for a Porsche 944 Turbo and Kerscher 062 roll bar for the front suspension. In the rear suspension they added Porsche 944 25 mm torsion bars with Bilstein B6 shocks, Porsche 944 18 mm roll bar, and Porsche 944 aluminum semi-trailing arms. Braking is handled by Porsche 944 Turbo S disc brakes on each corner.<\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

On the outside Knepper added wider carbon fiber rear fenders and carbon fiber spoiler. They painted the body in Marathon Blue metallic paint. Inside the fenders are Porsche Cup 2 wheels. The charging port is located under the factory fuel filler flap. <\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1975<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Knepper Bugs & More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Knepper Bugs & More specializes in Volkswagen Beetles at their company in Rahden, Germany. They found their next project 5,700 miles away in California. They shipped the tired 1975 Volkswagen Beetle 1303 back to Germany where Knepper converted it to electric. In the back they swapped a Tesla Model S Performance drive unit capable of… Read More »1975 Beetle with a 600+ hp Electric Motor<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":147293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":70,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[352,84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beetle","category-bug"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1975-VW-Beetle-with-a-Tesla-Model-S-electric-motor-01.jpg?fit=1600%2C1067&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":142165,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=142165","url_meta":{"origin":147287,"position":0},"title":"VW 1303 with a Turbo Subaru EJ20","author":"swaptastic","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Knepper Bugs & More is a company in Rahden, Germany specializing in Volkswagen Beetles. The company built this VW 1303 without an air-cooled flat-four. Instead they swapped a turbocharged 2.0 L Subaru EJ20 flat-four. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Porsche 915 five-speed manual transaxle. Knepper Bugs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beetle"","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW 1303 with a turbocharged Subaru EJ20 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VW-1303-with-a-turbocharged-Subaru-EJ20-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":144613,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=144613","url_meta":{"origin":147287,"position":1},"title":"VW 1303 with a Type 4 Motor","author":"swaptastic","date":"January 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Knepper Bugs & More built this Volkswagen 1303 S at their company in Germany. In the back of the car is a 2.1 L Type 4 flat-four paired with a four-speed transaxle with a longer 4th gear. The suspension features KW coilovers in front and Bilstein B6 shocks in rear.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beetle"","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW 1303 S with a Type 4 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VW-1303-S-with-a-Type-4-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VW-1303-S-with-a-Type-4-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VW-1303-S-with-a-Type-4-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VW-1303-S-with-a-Type-4-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VW-1303-S-with-a-Type-4-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":133434,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=133434","url_meta":{"origin":147287,"position":2},"title":"VW Beetle with a Porsche 356 Motor","author":"swaptastic","date":"June 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Memminger restored this Volkswagen Beetle at their company in Reichertshofen, Germany. The car is powered by an air-cooled flat-four from a Porsche 356. The company does not list the engine displacement but they installed an upgraded oil cooler and custom exhaust. In front of the motor is a rebuilt manual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beetle"","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW Beetle with a Porsche 356 motor","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-motor-01.jpg?fit=992%2C662&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-motor-01.jpg?fit=992%2C662&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-motor-01.jpg?fit=992%2C662&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-motor-01.jpg?fit=992%2C662&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":116082,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=116082","url_meta":{"origin":147287,"position":3},"title":"VW Beetle with a Porsche 356 Motor","author":"swaptastic","date":"May 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This Volkswagen \"Pretzel Beetle\" was built by Memminger in Reichertshofen, Germany. In the back they installed an air-cooled flat-four from a Porsche 356. No word on engine displacement but they installed an upgraded oil cooler and custom exhaust. The motor is paired to a rebuilt manual transaxle with different gear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beetle"","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"VW Beetle with a Porsche 356 flat-four","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/VW-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-356-flat-four-01.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":102399,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=102399","url_meta":{"origin":147287,"position":4},"title":"Electric 1969 Beetle","author":"swaptastic","date":"July 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Corbin Dunn is a woodworker, metalworker, and photographer. In 2010 he set out to convert his 1969 Volkswagen Beetle to electric. Corbin started by swapped the Beelte's flat-four motor for a WarP 9 DC electric motor and Netgain Controls WarP Drive Controller (1000 amps). The motor's approximately 100 hp is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beetle"","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"1969 Beetle powered by an electric motor","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Electric-1969-Beetle-01.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Electric-1969-Beetle-01.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Electric-1969-Beetle-01.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Electric-1969-Beetle-01.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":108577,"url":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?p=108577","url_meta":{"origin":147287,"position":5},"title":"Bugster 9.03: The 2000 Porsche Boxster S with a 1973 Beetle Body","author":"swaptastic","date":"December 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Bugster 9.03 project was built over 10 years ago by CarMaxx Classics located in Hirtenberg, Austria. The unique car resurfaced and is for sale at Schroeder-Classics in Stuttgart, Germany for \u20ac195,000. CarMaxx Classics spent two years installing a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle 1303 body over a 2000 Porsche Boxster S\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Beetle"","block_context":{"text":"Beetle","link":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/?cat=352"},"img":{"alt_text":"2000 Porsche Boxster S with a 1973 Beetle body","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1973-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-Boxster-chassis-and-powertrain-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1973-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-Boxster-chassis-and-powertrain-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1973-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-Boxster-chassis-and-powertrain-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1973-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-Boxster-chassis-and-powertrain-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/engineswapdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1973-Beetle-with-a-Porsche-Boxster-chassis-and-powertrain-22.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=147287"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":147309,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147287\/revisions\/147309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/147293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=147287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=147287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engineswapdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=147287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}