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Friday, March 11, 2016
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New VW is so much more than a Dune buggy Volkswagen used the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as the backdrop to hold the international launch of the Beetle Dune. The car was sitting on a stand outside the Vdara hotel, gleaming in gold paint and looking tough for a Beetle. At first, the idea of a more rugged Dune version of a Beetle made no sense, why would anyone want a Beetle with a higher ride height, body cladding and flashy exterior details? It was only after a day behind the wheel and finding out the price of the Dune that it started to make sense.
of the car. In addition, the side mirrors are painted silver, there is a black Dune logo on the side and the front and rear lower sections have a silver skid plate inspired fascia. Inside The Dune is available in black, white or the vibrant Sandstorm The latest version Yellow seen here. The colour of the exterior is carried inside the car of this icon is a across the doors and dash, even the instrument cluster is colour thoroughly modern matched. The Dune comes standard vehicle with refined with two-tone seats made of leathdriving characteristics erette and cloth, plus colour-matchand useful features. ing stitching. There is a surprising amount of room inside the cabin, it Zack Spencer feels open and airy, plus the back Looks cargo is very useful, thanks to an The Beetle was the car that started enormous hatch and folding back seats. The origiit all for VW, over six decades ago. The latest nal Beetles were fun and functional and this latest version of this icon is a thoroughly modern vehicle version has both in spades, or hearts, since we with refined driving characteristics and useful were in Vegas! There is only one option package features. What hasn’t changed is the sense of for the Dune; it is a tech package, which includes a whimsy that the shape of the car brings. To try to 16-centimetre screen with navigation, a wonderful capture the dune-bug area of the 60 and 70s, VW Fender sound system and blind spot detection has introduced this slightly more rugged looking system. The Dune starts at $26,990 and the tech version called Dune. The suspension sits 10mm package is an additional $1570. higher than the regular car and the track of the wheels, side-to-side has been widened by 14mm. Drive The wheels are 18-inches and framed by black Our drive left the noisy city of Las Vegas behind cladding around the wheel arches and the bottom and within a half an hour, the Dune was carving
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through the Red Rock Canyon and the mountains just outside the city. With unseasonably clear and cool weather, the snowcapped mountains were the perfect backdrops for this latest VeeDub. Even though VW has equipped the Dune with what it calls a “rough road” suspension, this isn’t an off-road vehicle in any way, the added ride height really only showcases the exterior style. The on-road manners of this car are first rate, thanks to an independent suspension and upgraded front sway bar. The handling is refined and the ride is sophisticated. The star of the show is the 1.8L turbocharged engine that pumps out 170hp on regular gasoline and the only transmission in VW’s slick 6-speed automatic. Verdict At first glance, the Dune might seem merely a silly styling exercise but on further inspection, it is an alternative to a regular Beetle and at no extra cost. The Dune is based on the Comfortline Beetle, yet it comes equipped with many additional features for $27,000. The Comfortline would need to be equipped with two additional packages and that would actually bring the price higher than the Dune. So, the Dune doesn’t cost more than a nicely equipped Beetle. After a while the idea sank in. The Beetle is for someone that wants to drive something different and the Dune takes that idea as step forward. The only complaints that I have is the fact that VW Canada, unlike the US division, will not offer a convertible
version of the Dune and there is no manual transmission available. The Dune is fun and practical, so if you like the Beetle, why not gamble on something different. The Lowdown Power: 170hp 1.8L Turbo Fill-up: N/A Sticker price: $26,990 zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca
Safety Tip: The start of Daylight Savings Time means darker morning commutes for the next few weeks. Now is the time to pay extra attention to vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians as visibility may be very limited. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AHEAD
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