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Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept for Detroit Motor Show

Fri, 10 Jan 2014


Volkswagen has announced a Beetle Dune concept will take to its show stand at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) next week – promising to bring a bit of beach buggy sunshine to the polar vortex chilled show halls of Detroit.

So far VW has only released the pair of design concepts pictured here, but together with a few choice details you can clearly figure out what we’re dealing with here. The Dune is a Beetle that’s been given a rugged off-road makeover.

On Bing: see pictures of the Volkswagen Beetle DuneFind out how much a used Volkswagen Beetle costs on Auto Trader

If you were hoping for something a little more along the lines of a Baja Bug you’re going to be disappointed. And don’t expect this car to have much in the way of genuine all-terrain ability.

Despite the presence of a rear deck mounted ski-rack and some tough-looking body-cladding, the Dune remains only front-wheel drive. But compared to a standard Beetle we’re told it features a 50mm increase in ride height and chunky off-road tyres wrapped round 19-inch alloy wheels.

It’s powered by the range-topping 210hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, combined with a six-speed DSG automatic transmission. So should go 0-62mph in around 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of about 140mph; both details are still to be officially announced.
 

Volkswagen


VW previously explored this idea with a concept from 2000 based on the previous New Beetle, which was also called the Dune.

But while the Dune nametag has been applied to a number of other raised-height Volkswagen model variants – including the Golf Plus and the Polo – that original Beetle concept was never destined to be a production reality.

This latest 2014 remix has, we understand, a much better chance of making it into showrooms – with the entire drivetrain being entirely production feasible.

Like the idea? Let us know…

Stay tuned to MSN Cars for further news from the Detroit Motor Show 2014, including full details of the new Beetle Dune next week.

Volkswagen Beetle review (2011 onwards)Read another Volkswagen review on MSN CarsDetroit Motor Show 2014 preview: all the important new carsOn Bing: see pictures of the Volkswagen Beetle DuneFind out how much a used Volkswagen Beetle costs on Auto Trader

 

 


By CJ Hubbard, contributor, MSN Cars