The Twisted TBug is a classic Baja racer reborn
UK-based tuning specialist Twisted has built its reputation on custom Land Rover Defenders and Suzuki Jimnys, but now it's taking a bold detour with the launch of its latest project: the TBug — a reimagining of the iconic SoCal Baja Bug for the modern era.
Each TBug starts life as a carefully chosen air-cooled VW Beetle from the 1960s to 1980s. The chassis is stripped back to bare metal before being restored, rebuilt and strengthened for added rigidity.
From there, it's fitted with classic Baja-style bodywork, long-travel suspension and chunky BFGoodrich tyres for enhanced off-road grip.
Power comes from a modified original air-cooled engine tuned to produce about 60kW. That may not sound like much, but it's more than enough for some proper old-school fun.
'It's about the connection between driver, machine and terrain,' says Twisted founder Charles Fawcett.
'That sensation of working with the vehicle rather than merely sitting in it. Modern cars have isolated us from the driving experience — the TBug brings it back in its purest form.'
Additional upgrades include modern LED lighting for night runs, a beefier braking system for improved stopping power and updated electronics for greater reliability.
Inside you'll find a hand-finished cabin designed to blend heritage charm with everyday comfort.
As with all Twisted builds, personalisation is central — each TBug is built to individual spec, ensuring no two are exactly alike.
The TBug will make its public debut at Twisted's Kensington Mews showroom in London on May 29, during an exclusive preview event.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Experience the charm of vintage VW Buggies with the Wild Buggers Club
Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club plans to host their annual run Image: Supplied If you've ever spotted a colourful beach buggy cruising along the West Coast, chances are it belongs to a group called the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club — a Cape Town-based club made up of people who love old Volkswagen Beetles, Buggies, Bajas and anything with a bit of vintage charm. This month, weather permitting, they're inviting other vintage VW lovers to join them on their next group run — a scenic drive full of stops, photos and a traditional South African braai to end it off. If you've got a Beetle, Buggy or even just a half-finished project in your garage, you're welcome. The club started in the early 1990s when founder Anton Kleyn bought his first buggy. 'I was hooked,' he said. 'A few years later, I decided to build one myself.' At the time, there were no buggy clubs in Cape Town, so in 1995 Anton started one. It took a few years to get going, but by 1998 — with the help of fellow member Ron Metz — the club began to grow. Today, the Wild Buggers Beach Buggy Club has more than 70 members and over 30 working buggies on the road. Andre Rohm's British Fairthorpe Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading So, what do they actually do? 'We get together, we drive, we laugh, and we help each other fix things when they break,' said Anton. The group meets up on the second Sunday of every month for a drive, and they also take part in charity events and car shows. But mostly, it's about enjoying the ride and spending time with people who share the same passion. The cars come in all shapes and sizes — from shiny, restored Beetles to rough-and-ready beach buggies. Some are rare and special, like Jacques La Grange's 1962 Lolette, the oldest buggy in the club, and Andre Rohm's British Fairthorpe, one of only four of its kind in South Africa. There's also Hugo Kogelenberg's 1971 T-Bug, another rare find that turns heads wherever it goes. 'It's not about perfection,' Anton said. 'If you love it, that's enough.' Hugo Kogelenberg's 1971 T-Bug Image: Supplied

The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
McLaren extend their lead, But Verstappen steals the spotlight
Obakeng Meletse | Published 8 hours ago McLaren's dominance of the 2025 Formula One season is quickly becoming the norm, as the Woking-based outfit stretched their lead in both championships once again. But despite Oscar Piastri's commanding fifth win of the season handing him a ten-point lead at the top of the world drivers' championship, it was Max Verstappen who stole the headlines after a controversial end to the Spanish Grand Prix. Piastri now leads the standings with 186 points, closely followed by teammate Lando Norris on 176. The pair have consistently outpaced the field this season, leaving only Verstappen (137 points) as a distant challenger — though his hopes took a serious hit in Barcelona. Verstappen's race unravelled late after a collision with George Russell earned him a 10-second penalty, demoting him to 10th place. The Red Bull driver had already expressed frustration with his tyre strategy — concerns that proved justified when the race resumed on lap 64 of 66 following a late safety car. Struggling for grip on hard tyres, Verstappen was quickly overtaken by Charles Leclerc for third place. Moments later, Russell attempted a move on the Dutchman into Turn 1, leading to contact. Verstappen was instructed by his team to yield the position, and although he appeared to comply, he slowed erratically and made contact with Russell again — a move that seemed deliberate. Though both cars escaped major damage, the incident raised eyebrows. Verstappen's aggressive defense and controversial retaliation arguably warranted a harsher penalty. That he still finished in the points despite such conduct left many questioning whether the punishment fit the offense. Charles Leclerc produced another standout performance for Ferrari, finishing third despite being outqualified by teammate Lewis Hamilton for just the second time this season. It marked Leclerc's third podium of 2025, while Hamilton continues to chase his first. While Ferrari may lack outright pace compared to McLaren and Mercedes, Leclerc has consistently delivered strong results. He's made fewer mistakes, extracted more from the car, and has been a key factor in Ferrari holding second in the Constructors' Championship — just six points clear of a resurgent Mercedes team. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, brings immense experience and pedigree to Ferrari. But so far, it's Leclerc who's set the standard, quietly proving himself as the team's true leader. Few rookies have turned heads this season like Isack Hadjar. Alongside fellow debutant Kimi Antonelli, Hadjar has impressed with his maturity and pace — despite a difficult debut that saw him crash out in Australia. Since then, Hadjar has bounced back with resilience, collecting 21 points and outperforming teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who continues to struggle with the unpredictable RB16. Tsunoda's inconsistency has only strengthened the case for Hadjar, who now finds himself in contention for a more prominent role within the Red Bull system. At just 20-years old, Hadjar is not only showing promise — he's making a strong argument for a future seat at the senior team. With McLaren surging ahead, Verstappen under scrutiny, Ferrari balancing internal dynamics, and fresh talent rising through the ranks, the 2025 season is far from decided. As the paddock heads to Canada next, the pressure is mounting — and every point will matter.

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
McLaren extend their lead, But Verstappen steals the spotlight
Australia's Oscar Piastri is now the favourite to win the world drivers' championship, thanks to his race craft and coolness under pressure. Photo: AFP Image: AFP McLaren's dominance of the 2025 Formula One season is quickly becoming the norm, as the Woking-based outfit stretched their lead in both championships once again. But despite Oscar Piastri's commanding fifth win of the season handing him a ten-point lead at the top of the world drivers' championship, it was Max Verstappen who stole the headlines after a controversial end to the Spanish Grand Prix. Piastri now leads the standings with 186 points, closely followed by teammate Lando Norris on 176. The pair have consistently outpaced the field this season, leaving only Verstappen (137 points) as a distant challenger — though his hopes took a serious hit in Barcelona. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 🗣️ "It was a shame that the Safety Car came out and we were unlucky that we had to pit. That is racing though, sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn't." Reaction from Max, Yuki and Christian following a disappointing conclusion to the #SpanishGP 🇪🇸👇 — Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) June 1, 2025 Ten seconds too soft? Verstappen's controversial collision Verstappen's race unravelled late after a collision with George Russell earned him a 10-second penalty, demoting him to 10th place. The Red Bull driver had already expressed frustration with his tyre strategy — concerns that proved justified when the race resumed on lap 64 of 66 following a late safety car. Struggling for grip on hard tyres, Verstappen was quickly overtaken by Charles Leclerc for third place. Moments later, Russell attempted a move on the Dutchman into Turn 1, leading to contact. Verstappen was instructed by his team to yield the position, and although he appeared to comply, he slowed erratically and made contact with Russell again — a move that seemed deliberate. Though both cars escaped major damage, the incident raised eyebrows. Verstappen's aggressive defense and controversial retaliation arguably warranted a harsher penalty. That he still finished in the points despite such conduct left many questioning whether the punishment fit the offense. A race rundown with Charles 👍 — Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) June 1, 2025 Leclerc thrives under pressure — Is Hamilton the catalyst? Charles Leclerc produced another standout performance for Ferrari, finishing third despite being outqualified by teammate Lewis Hamilton for just the second time this season. It marked Leclerc's third podium of 2025, while Hamilton continues to chase his first. While Ferrari may lack outright pace compared to McLaren and Mercedes, Leclerc has consistently delivered strong results. He's made fewer mistakes, extracted more from the car, and has been a key factor in Ferrari holding second in the Constructors' Championship — just six points clear of a resurgent Mercedes team. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, brings immense experience and pedigree to Ferrari. But so far, it's Leclerc who's set the standard, quietly proving himself as the team's true leader. Isack Hadjar: A star in the making? Few rookies have turned heads this season like Isack Hadjar. Alongside fellow debutant Kimi Antonelli, Hadjar has impressed with his maturity and pace — despite a difficult debut that saw him crash out in Australia. Since then, Hadjar has bounced back with resilience, collecting 21 points and outperforming teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who continues to struggle with the unpredictable RB16. Tsunoda's inconsistency has only strengthened the case for Hadjar, who now finds himself in contention for a more prominent role within the Red Bull system. At just 20-years old, Hadjar is not only showing promise — he's making a strong argument for a future seat at the senior team.