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Twisted's 'TBug' Restomod Is a Modern Take on the Iconic Baja Bug

Land Rover-specialist Twisted Automotive is showing off its take on the Baja Bug. Called the "TBug," it looks like 10 pounds of fun in a five-pound Yorkshire pudding. The little off-roader has a lifted ride height and an 80-hp air-cooled flat-four that turns its all-terrain tires. Yorkshire-based Twisted Automotive originally built its reputation on heavily customized, tailored versions of the boxy Land Rover Defender. It kept the British brand's rugged and agricultural appearance but added thoroughly modernized powertrains, suspension, and interior. It's the kind of thing with global appeal, and Twisted will happily build one of their T90 Defenders to your specification, whether you live in New York or London. However, should you happen to reside in California, perhaps Twisted's latest creation has a little more appeal. Pleased T' Meet You It's called the TBug, and it's exactly what it looks like: a restomodded version of the original Baja Bug concept. Fitted with cutaway fender flares, chunky BFGoodrich off-road tires, and friendly LED headlights, it's like a Pixar movie come to life. It's utterly adorable and crammed with character. Richard Scarry would have loved it. Twisted Automotive Even better—if you're something of a Volkswagen purist—is that the TBug is all about the proper vintage VW ethos, doing more with less. It hasn't been swapped to turbocharged power or fitted with an EV running gear and big batteries. No, it is simply running an uprated version of the original air-cooled flat-four with no more than 80 hp on tap. Eighty horses in a VW Bug is plenty, but it also allows the driver to wring the car's neck on the regular. Will there be sandy roostertails and dune jumping? You better believe it. A TBug Built for You Like its other creations, Twisted will build the TBug to customer specs, so there's a great deal of fine-tuning to be done. The company suggests that no two will be the same, so you genuinely are getting something bespoke here. Beyond the engine, standard modifications will include a sealed and strengthened chassis, Bilstein dampers on a long-travel suspension, and EMPI Baja wheels. Twisted Automotive Twisted Automotive From there, there's a host of interior treatments and, of course, the chance to paint your dune-hopping Beetle in whatever bright color takes your fancy. No doubt the pricetag for one of these will be more restomod air-cooled 911 than vintage VeeDub, but owners are bound to be delighted by what looks like a hugely fun driving experience. Or, as they say in Yorkshire, this little Beetle will leave you right chuffed. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio