VW FALLS SHORT OF AMAZING
New Beetle still fun and affordable
When was the last time Volkswagen did something bold? Sure, Volkswagen AG contains Porsche, Bugatti and Lamborghini, which all produce nutty cars on occasion, but when was the last time VW made a car that made people step back and say, “Wow, that’s gutsy?”
While the emissions dodging was brazen, we might have to look back all the way to the Corrado VR6 or Vanagon Synchro.
Sure, the Beetle Dune garners plenty of attention with its ’70s gold paint, black tape stripes and retro silhouette. But you can’t help thinking it could have been something more.
The Dune is an option package on the slow-selling Beetle. It’s meant to hark back to the decidedly not official Beetle-based Baja Bugs of the 1970s. Those were air-cooled bugs that people lifted, fitted with knobby tires and added cut-down fenders for more tire clearance. They were loud, crude and crazy amounts of fun.
This new 2016 Beetle Dune is also lifted — but only by one wimpy centimetre, which doesn’t transform the Dune into a car that can jump the dunes at Pismo Beach. Other exterior features include aluminum accents front and rear that mimic skid plates and a 1.5-cm increase in width.
It’s clear VW wasn’t trying to build an off-roader. It was trying to add a bit of excitement to the Beetle. And judged solely on appearance, the package is a success. The gold paint is a great hue and the whale-tail spoiler evokes the turbocharged six-cylinder Beetles of the ’80s.
The Dune’s strongest feature is the spot-on detail work. The large, arching gauge cluster is somewhat reminiscent of the steel dashboards of old.
There are curry yellow accents everywhere inside the car, making the Dune feel special. And the Beetle Dune costs a rational $28,000 and change. While the sloping roofline of the Beetle does diminish cargo space and rear-seat room, it’s still quite comfy, and the folding rear seats mean you can get a lot of cargo in the happy little Beetle. It’s cute, and if all you want is some lighthearted fun and an occasional day at the beach, the Dune could be your ideal ride.