This spring at the New York auto show, VW showed off four conceptual takes on its retro-styled Beetle and as the fall and the LA Auto Show come round, the company has confirmed that two of those cars, the Dune and the Denim, are about to become production realities.
Inspired by the original beach buggies that used the equally original Volkswagen Beetle as a platform, the Dune has a more aggressive stance than any current production Beetle thanks to a wider track. It also has better ground clearance, an integrated front skid plate and rugged wheel arch extensions added to accommodate 18-inch wheels, and special front and rear bumpers. All of which should help it negotiate sand as well as asphalt.
"The new Dune successfully captures the iconic spirit of Baja Beetles, with a more rugged feel and amenities never before offered on the third-generation Beetle," said Joerg Sommer, Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "With its sporty and aggressive design and a number of the new technology features, we are confident that the new Dune will appeal to both new and returning Beetle customers."
However, no beach buggy ever offered a touch-screen infotainment system, a reversing camera and park distance sensors -- all of which are standard kit on the Dune. As is support for Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay smartphone connectivity systems.
Perhaps best of all, considering that this car will doubtless appeal to those wanting to hit the beach, is that the Dune can be specified as a hardtop or a convertible.
Beetle Denim
Like the Dune, the Denim is inspired by Beetles of the past, in this case the Jeans models of the 1970s. However, this car is a strictly limited edition of just 2000 soft-top units. It comes in a choice of two exterior colors -- Pure White or Stonewashed Blue -- and sits on 17-inch heritage wheels.
Inside, the seats are finished like a pair of jeans, complete with stitched storage pockets boasting red tabs. Elsewhere blue and white leatherette piping adds to the denim feel and even the fabric roof has been textured and colored to match.
The Denim also gets a touchscreen infotainment system, though it is a smaller 5-inch unit, compared with the Dune's latest generation 6.3-inch gesture supporting model. It also gets a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine and automatic transmission as standard.
The Denim will go on sale in January while the Dune will roll out in time for the Spring in hardtop form. The convertible won't go on sale until next fall.
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