Daring Concept Leisure Car
with Absolutely No Compromises
Thursday, January 6, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
The story of the New Beetle began
with the first designs at the Volkswagen
Design Studio in Simi Valley, California,
in 1992. Now the sequel will also be
written in California, at the Greater Los
Angeles Auto Show: Volkswagen
presents a New Beetle study that
is especially designed for the needs
of people who are sports oriented.
Its name is Dune. This New Beetle,
powered by a high-torque V5 engine over all four wheels, is meant to lead
where strictly "on road" vehicles can't follow. The motto is: Live wild, but
not dangerously.

When beyond suits and asphalt, cars must develop especially robust
characteristics-the Dune was specifically geared for this. Its optical and
technical distinguishing features not only reinterpret "off-road," the virtually
indestructible but pleasantly equipped interior is presented by the
Volkswagen designers as an essential core aspect of Dune-an interior
where aluminum, high grade plastics and robust leather are dominant.
The fact that this off-road Beetle-with its transparent and removable
middle portion of the roof-appears more maritime than rustic, clearly
sets it apart from other products of this segment and fits exactly between
strictly street and strictly off-road vehicles. Exterior: The variable roof is
an especially airy feature of the Dune. Because of the translucent warm
yellow plastic structure of the soft top, the pleasant sensation of sitting
under a sun sail is re-created when the roof is closed. On the other hand,
when it is open, the Dune develops an extraordina without any draft.

Opening and closing the roof panel is like child's play thanks to its very
light weight and well planned mechanics. Using two toggle-type fasteners,
it can be unlocked and taken out in the blink of an eye. Afterwards, the
roof panel can be pushed together to the four aluminum braces that are
visible to the outside, and then stowed in the trunk in a space-efficient
manner.

The fundamental shape of the New Beetle, which has been awarded three
American design prizes, has not been changed, for very good reasons.
Many modifications occur where they make functional sense for use
beyond main roads. In the front area, in comparison to the series model,
the radiator grill is immediately noticeable. This grill provides protection
from underpinning and is constructed from aluminum, taking over the
function of an especially robust bumper, without even beginning to disown
the typical design language of the New Beetle. Because the Bug skirt
was used, the blinkers had to be rearranged: they are located on the
Dune as round lights inside, next to the headlights, and harmonize
stylistically with the Volkswagen emblem worked into the middle of
the engine hood. In the tail, the middle of the bumper, also made of
aluminum, matches the corresponding element of the front area. The
two stainless steel tail pipes of the exhaust gas emission control
system and the rear lights made of clear glass optics emphasize
the sporty character of Dune.

Eighteen-inch aluminum wheels with six spokes and special tires
with 235/60 R 18 dimensions distinguish the Dune from the side.
As a comparison, the series New Beetle is delivered with tires in
205/55 R 16 format. The side body protection package has distinct
character. It consists of two protective rails in each door area, pulled
around the outer fender and solid side skirts up into the undershield.
These were arranged functionally so that they effectively protect the
under vehicle when used away from the streets. Interior: A special
car designed for leisure must be as practical as possible. In other
words, suitable for leisure. Everything else is constraining. Those
who go diving really find cloth lining in the trunk inconvenient. Wet
and dirty equipment would soon give the interior an unsightly
appearance. The interior of the leisure study, Dune is therefore
adapted to meet the demanding environment where it will be used.

As an exception, the theoretical sightseeing flight through the Dune
begins in the rear not the front. There is a reason for this: robust and
yet aesthetically designed, the trunk turned into a multi-talent. The
complete loading surface was lined with aluminum. The choice fell
specifically to this metal in order to keep the storage space, in light
of its use, really multi- variable. In addition, dirt and dampness won't
hurt this metal even over time. Aluminum tracks along the length
ensure that accessories such as diving containers or neoprene suits
don't lie on the floor unrestrained. All side walls are covered with a
black, durable leather.

The interior designer also covered the rear side of the single seats
in the back with aluminum plates. When they are folded down, they
make a large, uniform loading surface. Generally, the Dune was laid
out as a 2+2 seater. Here, our theory was that such vehicles are
most often used with two people and with complete utilization of the
luggage area variability. However, if two people do travel along in the
rear, their safety and comfort has also been considered. For one thing,
the headrests of the permanently integrated seats can be pulled out
very far, and for another, climatized coolers are accessible next to
each seat.

The entire vehicle rim wheel base between the rear bench seat and the
front bulkhead was manufactured from a durable, high quality plastic;
it is also used in the sunrise yellow like parts of the leather covers,
elements of the lining and all of the exterior paint. Volkswagen again
employed aluminum plates in the especially heavily used foot area.
Black rubber nubs make it non-slip. The interplay between the special
color, sunrise yellow, and black naturally includes the design of the
front seats, and the door lining, newly designed starting in the middle
area. As with the rear seats, the front seats are also characterized by
non-slip black woven webbing in the middle sections, accentuated by
sunrise yellow at the bolsters and sides. The seat backs are black.
Fortunately, should this interior ever encounter a spray of ocean water
or blown dune sand, it could very easily be returned to original factory
condition.

Instruments: The study also differs here from the series version in
essential features. An impressive example of this is the new central
instrument. While a one-part round unit informs about essential functions
in the New Beetle, in the Dune a three-part variation is used. In the center,
a new navigational system dominates the instruments. As an above-average
compass, it will point the way back to civilization, if it was left for one reason
or another. Two additional displays integrated in the instrument panel give
information about the respective side and height tendency of the body.
The tachometer is to the left of the navigational display, and the speedo-
meter is to the right of it. Similar to the transparent roof, the instruments
are framed by a translucent plastic unit. On the one hand, it prevents
reflections, and on the other, it plunges the displays into soft and pleasant
daylight.

Beyond that, aluminum also dominates the service and function elements.
The newly designed ventilation nozzles also glitter metallic just like the
tweeter and woofer of the radio system, the modified door handles and
window regulators, the gear shift knob and the parking brake lever, just
to name some of the most important details.

Technology: The concept car is driven, as indicated, by a 2.3 liter size
V5 engine, whose performance in other Volkswagen models was previously
listed as 110 kW. The transmission of power occurs via a six-gear
transmission and 4MOTION all wheel drive. With a height adjustable
air suspension, the driver can adjust the Dune to the various use areas.
Altogether, the suspension offers an adjustment range of up to 120 mm
using three programmable levels. Based on the extensive modification
in the chassis and body, there are changes to all the outer measurements
in comparison to the series New Beetle. For the benefit of good off-road
characteristics, the already short front overhang was yet again slightly
shortened. Through that, the overall length of the vehicle was reduced
by almost four centimeters. The opposite is the case in regards to the
width and height. At the lowest chassis level, the height increase is 62
millimeters. Beyond that, the wheels and the corresponding fitted fenders
effect the width of the Dune with an increase of 101 millimeters.