The Volkswagen Beetle Dune may soon become a car that we, regular folks, can drive around, as the German automaker continues mulling over the notion of putting this Bug into production.
The Beetle Dune debuted as a concept car at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, but the original idea was actually born much earlier. Volkswagen first announced its existence back at the 2000 Los Angeles Auto Show, but according to the automaker, the idea was “not realistic” enough to enter production. However, Volkswagen says that the more recent iteration of the Beetle Dune seems “a lot more feasible.”
In fact, the concept was feasible enough for Volkswagen to release a bunch of photos showcasing the Dune in action – as it traverses desert roads and, pardon the pun, dunes.
So, what’s so special about this Beetle? Mostly the fact that it’s two inches taller than the Coupe or Convertible variants that are currently available. It also comes with a set of 19-inch wheels, a rear-mounted ski/snowboard rack and a fake skidplate at the front, all of which make seem it a lot more off-road-ready than its more urban cousins. That’s also the reason why the Dune appears to be driven across deserts in the promo photos instead of cityscapes, like its less aggressive cousins.
Based on the Beetle Turbo, the compact features a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can produce 210 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The concept that’s been shown so far was available in front-wheel-drive form, but if the car enters widely production, it will possess all-wheel drive functionality as well.
Of course, it’s not really confirmed if Volkswagen will in fact produce this vehicle, but it seems very likely. “While it remains a concept car, everything about it is feasible – it is practically a production vehicle,” the automaker said in a press release.
Besides, recent cars like Fisker Karma and Cadillac Converj (renamed as ELR) seemed far more outlandish when they first debuted as concepts, but they still made it as production vehicles. That said, the Karma failed miserably afterwards, while the ELR is yet to prove itself, but that’s a whole new story onto itself. The Beetle Dune on the other hand can prove to be successful because the “Beetle” brand has been around for decades.
Are you looking forward to seeing the Beetle Dune hit the streets? Let us know in the comments below!
