While the Beetle Dune may look like an off-roader, it has
received no real mechanical upgrades to help it deal with difficult terrain.
It's being sold exclusively in front-wheel-drive form, too, so don't expect to
be tackling any sand dunes in this Beetle.
Observations on the 1.8-litre petrol engine in this
prototype car are of little value, given that it will never be offered here in
the UK, but even with 168bhp it felt sluggish in this larger, heavier Beetle. We
wonder, then, whether the 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engine-equipped Dunes set to
be offered in the UK will prove to be underpowered.
The Dune's raised ride height does bring advantages for
the driver. Even 10mm extra gives you a much clearer view of the road ahead,
and there's good all-round visibility. The seats are comfortable, too, although
as in the standard car the rear bench is best reserved for luggage or children.
There's a useful amount of boot space, however, but it's no more than is
already found on the Beetle Cabriolet.
On asphalt, the Dune handles well. The steering is light
and precise around town, weighting up well at higher speeds. There's also
little body roll through the corners. The ride is slightly firm in town, but at
cruising speeds bumps and road imperfections are absorbed well, even with 18in
alloys fitted. This all leads to a relaxing and even enjoyable driving
experience.
The Beetle Dune is, of course, mostly
show rather than go when it comes to off-road driving. There's very little here
in the way of actual trailblazing potential, but the vast majority of owners
won't mind that at all. They will want a car that just looks like it can go to
the ends of the earth and back, rather than one that actually can. The Beetle
Dune is a fashion statement, and an effective one at that.
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