VW INJECTS A DOSE OF OFF-ROAD HAPPINESS INTO THIS YEAR’S BEETLE DUNE, TAILOR-MADE FOR SNOW AND SAND ENTHUSIASTS

BY MATT SCANLON

Exceptionally grudging acknowledgment has to go to psychopath-for-the ages Adolf Hitler for two things: the Autobahn and the Volkswagen Beetle. In the case of the former, the Führer—as part of a national jobs program in the wake of the Great Depression—insisted upon a high-speed and nationwide system of roads, the forefather of the highway system we know today. For the latter he wanted a four-passenger automobile that any German could own, and contracted with Ferdinand Porsche to design the bodywork of what would become the longest-produced and among the most popular automobiles in history. No fewer than 21,500,000 Beetles using Porsche’s basic body style and structure were built from 1938 to 2006, though Volkswagen elected to design an additional model in 1997 in the form of the “New Beetle.” That reconfiguration proved to be modestly popular, though was never quite economical enough for the thrifty…not quite sporty enough for enthusiasts, and the need for another rethink was plain by the end of the new century’s first decade.

In what is to these editorial eyes the most handsome car Volkswagen has produced in 30 years, the 2011- debut Beetle A5 was and is meaner looking, sportier, more purposeful, and now a lot more fun in the form of this year’s Beetle Dune. A tip of the hat to Baja beach cruisers of the ’60s, the new model has higher ground clearance, more aggressive body styling, and a winning contrast between polished aluminum sills and black trim strips (reminiscent of the original Beetle running boards). Available in Sandstorm Yellow, Pure White, or Deep Black Pearl, it will be equipped with a 1.8-liter direct-injection and turbocharged TSI four-cylinder engine, offering 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, there are sport seats with contrasting orange stitching and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. Standard equipment includes the MIB II infotainment system, which serves as the foundation for Volkswagen’s Car-Net suite of features (connectivity includes app-connected integration with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and Mirror Link). A Technology Package will also be available, which adds dual-zone automatic climate control, a Fender Premium Audio System, keyless access with push-button start, and a tilt-and-slide sunroof.

The hardtop will go on sale in the first quarter of 2016, while the Dune Convertible will arrive in showrooms in the third quarter of the year, with prices starting just below $30,000

Paul Miller Volkswagen
118 Morristown Road, Bernardsville, NJ / 908.766.1600
paulmillervw.com