2001 | Volkswagen New Beetle 1.8 T

One of Two Cup Edition Millennium Beetle known all over Europe

£47,418
DE flag
Private seller

Description

The **"Cup Edition Millennium" **Beetle-known for the distinctive decals marking the turn of the millennium-is frequently referred to as the "Dubai Beetle." "Dubai Beetle" was the official project designation and is listed as such in VAG's vehicle VIN database. These cars were built in 2001 at the pilot production facility in Puebla as a very limited run of just 80 units. They were commissioned by the official VAG importer, Al Naboodah in Dubai, at the specific request of a prominent figure in Dubai. Although VW itself claims there is no museum example and no official documentation, this assertion has recently been conclusively refuted by internal VAG records. The car was developed by VW Racing GmbH under VAG supervision, conceived as a project in 1999, and sold exclusively to Dubai.

It is a highly mysterious VAG project surrounded by rumors. It is one of only three known original examples remaining worldwide.


The detailed history, based on 20 years of research, can be found at: www.cupeditionbeetle.com


This car - listed as the "Dubai Beetle" even in official VAG databases—was developed concurrently with the RSI model.

*** The reason for the commission:***

The aforementioned prominent figure had managed to acquire an RSI Beetle and immediately wanted several more. However, VAG denied this request because production of the RSI was strictly limited to 250 units.

The solution to the problem:

"The Personality" ( ... and only someone with a big name could pull this off ) leveraged his influence over VAG, which subsequently agreed to the production of this limited run. Responsibility was offloaded to "VW Racing GmbH," while the actual conversion and assembly were assigned to the pilot production department in Puebla, Mexico. Even back then, there was a clear desire to avoid being publicly linked to the project! One wonders why.

The result ==> 80 "Dubai Beetles" featuring two-wheel drive, a 1.8T engine, and a "Millennium Design" customized for the client! In the truest sense of the word, these cars have been "hidden" from the media to this day and have never been publicly mentioned or featured in publications!

*** Known project costs:***

The RSI Beetle was offered in Germany for approximately 136,000 DM. According to VW employees, the project costs for the "Dubai Beetle" amounted to around 6 million US dollars, resulting in a purchase price of roughly 147,000 DM per car! In other words: "More expensive than the RSI"! 

Facts - as of 2026:

A) Currently, two cars with their original appearance and original service records are known to exist in Europe (Germany and Spain)!

B) There is only one car in Germany in original condition with the corresponding documentation.

C) Over the past 20 years, about 10 additional cars have been sighted and reported worldwide; these were in drivable but poor condition!


The car had one previous owner and remained in the same hands for 20 years. During that time, it was driven only 200 km (verified by TÜV inspection records). An official VW document listing the VINs of all 80 cars produced in Puebla at the time, distinct photos showing the first prototype in Dubai (at the importer's facility or an auto show) in 1999, sightings of the first production-run "Dubai Beetles" undergoing test drives on German roads, and much more now confirm that the car was unequivocally a VW product! There is also an abundance of images and emails from VW suppliers and companies involved in the project.


We are looking for a genuine collector who appreciates the true value of this car—a vehicle that, due to its rarity, ranks on the same level as a well-preserved RSI Beetle! A trade-in involving a suitable car or motorcycle is possible. According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), exporting the vehicle to the USA will become possible in 2027—once it is over 25 years old (based on the date of first registration)—and it will be exempt from US safety and emissions standards (FMVSS).

Condition & Registration

Registered
Ready to drive

Inspection Report

Not available
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Technical Details

Vehicle data

Make
Volkswagen
Model series
New Beetle
Model name
New Beetle 1.8 T
Manufacturer code
Typ 9C
First registration date
Not provided
Year of manufacture
2001
Mileage (read)
90,000 km
Chassis number
Not provided
Engine number
Not provided
Gearbox number
Not provided
Matching numbers
Not provided
Number of owners
Not provided

Technical details

Body style
Saloon (2-doors)
Power (kW/hp)
110/150
Cubic capacity (cm³)
1781
Cylinders
4
Doors
2
Steering
Left (LHD)
Gearbox
Manual
Gears
Not provided
Transmission
Front
Front brakes
Disc
Rear brakes
Not provided
Fuel type
Petrol

Individual Configuration

Exterior color
Blue
Interior color
Black
Interior material
Textile

Location

Loading map

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