Volkswagen Beetle Dune


The VW Beetle is an icon. Now Volkswagen is enriching the history of this incomparable automobile by introducing the new Beetle Dune - the first crossover model since the Beetle was introduced over 80 years ago. Volkswagen presented the production version of the crossover vehicle in a world premiere at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show in tribute to American car drivers who always had a special affinity for the Beetle.

Conceptually unique model: a coupe and convertible with an off-road look and, as The engine offered in the USA at market launch will be a turbocharged gasoline engine with 170 PS. In Europe, Volkswagen will offer the Beetle Dune with three turbocharged gasoline and two turbocharged diesel engines. The gasoline engines produce 105 PS, 150 PS and 220 PS, while the diesel engines develop 110 PS and 150 PS.


The Volkswagen Beetle Dune expresses a very unique and powerful character with its off-road accents, new bumper designs, front diffuser, rear diffuser, lifted body and new for the model series: 18-inch alloy wheels. Consider the front end: It was extensively redesigned. What remained unchanged are its basic iconic style and the layout of the typical round headlights. The entirely new front apron design has an extremely dynamic appearance. Defining its style here is a large, central air intake with a black honeycomb screen (typical design element of crossover and GTI models from Volkswagen). The screen widens in a downward direction, which accentuates the dominant, sporty look of the front end. The screen is integrated in a Reflex Silver frame. To the sides of the central air intake there are two inserts with shapes that are trapezoidal toward the center of the car, and their frames are matt black. Mounted in these inserts are the fog lights and turn signals. The Beetle Dune (just like the future R-Line and Sportline models) can also be made out by another feature: an additional air intake beneath the engine hood.

Three elements define the image of the rear body: the large rear spoiler, the newly developed LED tail lights and the newly designed bumper. The standard rear spoiler, painted in glossy black at the top and in the car's exterior color at the bottom, optimizes downforce at the rear axle. The new LED tail lights generate an entirely new night design. The very special character of the Beetle Dune is also highlighted by its bumper. The background surface for the license plate (with LED illumination) and the lower area are designed in matt black. Integrated centrally here is a diffuser in glossy Reflex Silver.


The VW Beetle Dune comes with the latest generation of Volkswagen infotainment systems. The Beetle (all versions) is offered with the standard 5-inch Composition Color system and the 6.3-inch Composition Media and Discover Media (plus navigation) systems. In the USA, the Composition Media and Discover Media are equipped with SAT radio. In Europe, meanwhile, all three modules may be extended with a DAB+ digital radio receiver. Even the basic system, the Composition Color, has very good sound with eight loudspeakers. Also standard: a dual tuner for the best possible radio reception, speed-dependent loudness adjustment, CD player with MP3 and WMA playback functions, SD card slot as well as USB and AUX-IN ports. The 5-inch touchscreen (resolution: 400 x 240; screen diagonal 12.7 cm) of the Composition Color features resistive sensor technology (reacts to pressure).

The VW Beetle Dune can be ordered in one of nine colors. New to the selection are Sandstorm Yellow Metallic and Dark Bronze Metallic. Available classic colors are Black, Pure White, Moon Rock Silver Metallic, Platinum Gray Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect and Oryx White Mother of Pearl Effect. The 18-inch Canyon alloy wheels can be ordered with spokes glazed in Sandstorm Yellow Metallic that are otherwise gloss turned (tires: 235/45).


The Beetle Dune will launch in North America, Asia, Europe and South Africa in early 2016. Incidentally, although the car was of course created in Germany, the name "Beetle" is an American creation. It was the New York Times that wrote about the new Volkswagen as a "shiny little Beetle" in a story that appeared on June 3, 1938.