Volkswagen Beetle Dune – walking the rugged path

Beetle Dune

Volkswagen will be offering a different take of its Beetle at the upcoming NAIAS in Detroit, with the Beetle Dune concept putting a rugged offroad slant to things. It’s not the first to wear the name – the automaker first explored the path with its New Beetle Dune concept, which was presented in Los Angeles back in 2000.

The design study wasn’t very realistic then though, especially with its interior and roof structure, and so do we get to 2014 and a new Dune concept that is a more feasible proposition.

The current Dune raises the Bug’s body by two inches, and VW designers have bolted a pair of skis to the roof to show the vehicle’s go-anywhere intentions. Its name, raised ground clearance, and all-terrain look hark back to the VW Bugs that conquered beaches and dunes in times past.

The showcar follows the production R-Line Beetle in its running gear, in this case a 210 hp turbocharged TSI engine and six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, with an accompanying XDS electronic differential lock.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • BMW Fanboi on Jan 10, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    What’s the difference between DSG and Manchester United?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 8
  • Ketua Zoo Monyet (kzm)) on Jan 10, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Dune or what, wait for the DSG to breakdown like all the other DSGs

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • kadajawi on Jan 10, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    That’s not a proper offroad Beetle. This is:
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/VW_Kuebelwagen_1.jpg

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • As we’re talking about the beatle, I guess it would be type 287 ‘Kommandowagen’:

      http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/26894477

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Suddenly! A wild blastoise appears!

    Okay, on to a serious note, beetles are surprisingly well love in desert racing particularly Baja races where fender-less and Subaru powered bug are the trend to use. 215hp + DSG, I really don’t think this is fit for desert racing, I don’t even think those are high enough ground clearance. But as a Jack up, SUV like beetle, something like a XCbeetle or Beetle allroad, I think it might work considering the boom in the SUV market.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • frenzyaustin on Jan 10, 2014 at 3:05 pm

      I know I’m not the only one thought of Blastoise in my first sight!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • motorhead on Jan 10, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    Man.. Gorgeous.. Like real bugs.. Real insects.. Cool name.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
 

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