whoever says an off-road vehicle can’t look elegant? the Volkswagen Beetle Dune Concept Car, unveiled at last week’s Detroit Auto Show, proves that it can be done. this near-production example sports a shell of the modern Beetle that you are familiar with, but that’s just about the only similarity with the ‘lesser’ Beetle; the Beetle Dune Concept Car features added ground clearance and has a wider stance, complemented by its matte black flared wheel arches. powered by the proven 2.0-liter TSI engine with 210 PS on the tap, and paired to a 6-speed DSG gearbox, the Beetle Dune is capable of zipping from naught to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.3 seconds.
other cool features include a chrome-plated underbody protection, side trim trips on top of the sills that reminiscences of the iconic running boards of the original Beetle, roof-mounted ski rack (for two sets of skis!), rear spoiler, 19-inch rolling stocks, Bi-Xenon headlamps, LED fog lights, and an infortainment system, featuring a 7.7-inch HD touchscreen display. a perfect example of the marriage between elegance and ruggedness. for those who think Baja Beetle (you can’t by that off the showroom, anyways) is little too rugged, perhaps this one might just tickles your fancy.
though it is reported as “near-production”, we have absolutely no idea when it will hit the dealers. for now, some high resolution images will have to do, which you can find in the image gallery after the break.
