Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept takes to the road

A new approach to a classic vehicle made modern, the Volkswagen Beetle Dune, has made an appearance on the road as the concept car steps ever closer to reaching production.

For the first time in six months, the car has been seen in public as it was driven on the sunny roads of Sylt in Germany. Last time the car was showcased was at the Detroit motor show in Michigan in January.

Although the Beetle is typically seen travelling about the city in style, the new Beetle Dune is designed for a more rugged journey as it is able to take on any terrain. Its body is raised 50mm compared to the standard model, while its 19-inch wheels are equipped with large tyres so that it has the look of a car that can drive on all types of surfaces. This gives a nod to the Volkswagen beach buggies of days gone by.

The car also comes with features that are perfect for the adventurer. Its rear-mounted ski rack is similar to that seen on classic vehicles. While in winter it could be used for snowsports equipment, in summer it could be useful for transporting a sandboard, for example, for surfing the dunes that the car is named after. Skis or, indeed, sandboards can be attached onto the boot lid and latched in place using mechanisms on the rear body and roof spoiler.

Of course, the car does have little bits in common with the current production model of the Volkswagen Beetle. The Beetle Dune comes with the same 210 PS turbocharged petrol engine and utilises a six-speed DSG gearbox which provides power to the front wheels.

The car also gives a nod to the New Beetle Dune, which was showcased in Los Angeles back in 2000. However, the vehicle concept back then was intended more as just that, while the Dune of 2014 is set to go into production.

Volkswagen said this of the Beetle Dune: “While it remains a concept car, everything about it is feasible – it is practically a production vehicle.”

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