Even without four-wheel drive, the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive original Volkswagen Beetle made a credible off-roader—so much so that there was a whole class for modified Beetles in the Baja 1000. And Baja-style Bugs were a popular modification. With their bumpers removed, fenders shortened, engine exposed, and beefier wheels fitted, they managed to look mean and purposeful at the same time. That’s the spirit Volkswagen is attempting to tap with the VW Beetle Dune, a new version of the current car that gets a bit of what otherwise might be thought of as the Subaru Outback treatment.
You’ll not want to take your Beetle Dune anywhere near an actual dune—or at least not any closer than you would any other Beetle. There’s not much in the way of mechanical modifications in the Dune—it’s really a trim level that brings mostly revised visuals and added equipment. Available as a coupe and a convertible (the latter following by about six months), the Dune retains the standard car’s front-wheel drive and its 170-hp 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, paired exclusively with the six-speed automatic. The Dune sits 0.4 inch higher than other Beetles, on 18-inch 235/45-series all-season rubber; its front and rear track is also 0.6 inch wider.
Looks-wise, the Dune gets modified front and rear fascias—which actually appear lower to the ground rather than higher. Their brushed-metal inserts are supposed to suggest skid plates. Which is different from actually being a skid plate. Other exterior changes include fog lights, a rear spoiler, and LED taillights. Black trim outlines the wheel openings, the side mirrors are black and silver, silver rocker-panel moldings are fitted, and the lower-body trim strip is black, which VW says is a visual reminder of the original Beetle’s running boards—removal of which was also common for the old-school Baja Bugs.
The Dune comes with VW’s 6.3-inch Composition Color touch screen, part of the MIB II infotainment system, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink smartphone integration. A backup camera and Park Distance Control also are standard.
Besides the Sandstorm Yellow hue seen in these photos, two other exterior colors are offered: Pure White and Deep Black Pearl. The interior features black sport seats with orange contrast stitching; yellow cars have splashes of body color on the dash and door panels, while the other interiors are all black.
The Dune may be mostly about styling, but it does move the Beetle away from hard-core cuteness, which is a good thing. Even if it’s still a long way from Baja.
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