The Beach Buggy Has Been Born - Volkswagen Beetle Dune

When an auto maker adds a sporty twist to a car, you can usually expect a ride height decrease of around 10-15 mm, however the Beetle Dune actually goes up by 10 mm. That's because it has been made to look like a crossover version of the Beetle.

The order books opened on the 5th of April and deliveries will start arriving in June, perfect timing for the summer season.

The Sandstorm Yellow and Dark Bronze metallic paints complement the character of the Beetle Dune really well, however you can also specify it in Deep Black pearlescent or standard black or white non-metallics.

Around the front, a silver-framed air inlet and black honeycomb grille make the Beetle Dune stand out from its siblings, and a large spoiler and LED tail lights further accentuate its playful look around the back.

Inside, a contrasting 'Turmeric' stitching on the sports seats, leather-covered steering wheel and handbrake lever go well with the Sandstorm Yellow paint.

Based on the Beetle Design, the Dune comes as standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, DAB, CD and USB inputs. It also features automatic lights and wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and front and rear parking sensors.

Unfortunately, the whole range of engines isn't carried over to the Beetle Dune. It only gets the 104 bhp 1.2-litre TSI petrol or 148 bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel. The petrol can achieve up to 50 mpg, while the diesel boasts a figure of more than 60 mpg. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on both, however a DSG automatic can be specified, with 6 gears for the diesel or 7 for the petrol. Both engines feature BlueMotion Technology, which boasts stop/start among other fuel-saving ideas.

Pricing for the Beetle Dune is as follows - figures in brackets are for the DSG models.

• Coupé 1.2 TSI - £21,300 (£22,760)
• Coupé 2.0 TDI - £23,805 (£25,410)
• Cabriolet 1.2 TSI - £24,255 (£25,700)
• Cabriolet 2.0 TDI - £26,875 (£28,235)

That makes the Beetle Dune £2,395 more expensive than the Beetle Design every time.