First shown at the 2000 LA Auto Show, the Dune Beetle was an attempt by VW to show what a cross between a SUV and a Beetle would look like. Changes from the standard car included increased ride height with oversized wheels, a full length sun roof, and extra aluminium trim of the front and rear bumpers and unique side molding on the lower end of the doors. The instrument binnacle on the dashboard has 3 dials instead of just one on the standard car.
Driving the Dune Beetle is VWs V5 engine, mounted transversely and driving all 4 wheels through Volkswagen's 6 speed 4-motion 4 wheel drive transmission system. So in addition to having good off road capability, the Dune Beetle is pretty quick too!
To date (September 2006) the Dune Beetle has not been put into production by Volkswagen, but it remains an impressive concept that showed the potential spin off designs possible with the New Beetle bodystyle.
AUTOart make this model of the Dune Beetle, and apart from poor rear lights and a rear suspension that gives the rear wheels a slightly askew stance, it is a good model and gets 76.25% overall.
76.25%
