VW Beetle for half a million euros: Restomod in small series is a luxury product
Created: 06/30/2022Updated: 06/30/2022 08:47
By: Marcus Efler
A Beetle for the price of two Ferraris: the VW 1303 from the 1970s has been reborn as the Milivié 1.
The original body contains the latest high-tech.
Leipzig – The reconstruction of automotive classics into so-called restomods is one of the major trends in the hobbyist industry.
A British tuner upgraded the original Mini to a modern racer, the Porsche 911 of the 964 series experienced a rebirth, as did the BMW M3 from the 80s.
What all of these restomods have in common is that they are not bargains, but rather elaborately handcrafted, expensive one-offs or small series.
This also applies to a very special VW Beetle from Leipzig: the start-up Milivié is converting the VW 1303 from the 1970s into a luxury product.
So far still as a photorealistic drawing: The Milivié 1. © Milivié
VW Beetle for half a million euros: Restomod in small series is a luxury product
Only the floor pan and the body shell remain from the hand-picked original vehicles.
The rest of the Milivié 1 is basically a new car - right down to two displays combined into an extra-wide digital cockpit in the style of the BMW iX electric SUV.
The entire interior is rebuilt, including four carbon bucket seats.
Convenience details such as camera parking assistance, air conditioning and automatic functions for lights and wipers complete the total renewal.
The treacherous chassis of the original has been replaced by modern independent wheel suspension with double wishbones, and new disc brakes on the 19-inch rims – at the front with six pistons on 34-centimetre discs.
The four-cylinder engine in the rear is also being thoroughly revised, Milivié has not yet given any performance data.
The Milivié 1 comes with a rear rump and new LED taillights.
© Milivé
VW Beetle for half a million euros: LEDs instead of light bulbs
Experts will also recognize that even the proportions of the original Beetle body have been slightly altered: the bonnet has moved forward by eight centimetres.
In addition, new rear-view mirrors and, of course, LED lighting modernize the exterior design.
Despite all the changes, the Milivié 1 remains clearly recognizable as a classic Beetle.
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Everything new in the interior: The cockpit of the Milivié 1 is fully digital.
© Milivé
The question arises as to how quickly the 22 planned vehicles will be sold from next year.
Because the price for the Mega Beetle is steep: it should cost at least 570,000 euros, more than twice as much as a Ferrari 296 GTB.
Free choice of color is included, individual extras can be discussed and ordered as desired - but then at an additional cost.