Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept for Detroit Motor Show

Volkswagen

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.

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.

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

By CJ Hubbard, contributor, MSN Cars