The name may be familiar, but the concept is updated. Volkswagen’s Dune concept is a revisiting of the concept from 2000, which itself was a rethinking of the classic “Baja Beetles” that were stripped down for desert running. The new Beetle Dune concept carries on that tradition with flared fenders and a beefy-looking body kit that provide an off-road ready look.
VW’s clearly aware of the irony of introducing a summertime-fun Beetle concept in the dead of winter: the Dune took the stage with a pair of skis strapped to the back. The oversized tires and raised body would be equally adept at tackling deep sand or deep snow, after all. Skid plates are also included.
Inside, the Beetle Dune features body-colored trim panels and a grab handle in place of the second glovebox. This concept is based on the production car, and VW didn’t indicate that there was any exotic hardware underneath, so presumably the running gear is stock. However, there’s no reason that the all-wheel drive systems currently doing duty in the Tiguan or Golf R couldn’t be adapted…
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, as there are no plans to produce the Beetle Dune. We’ll just have to imagine what could be.
