Volkswagen has been busy announcing new cars this week as the auto industry is set to unveil new models at the Los Angeles Auto Show. VW pulled out all the nostalgic punches by announcing a couple of new variants of the fan-favorite Beetle.
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The 2016 Beetle Denim will have a short run of 2,000 limited edition units. The 1970s Jeans Bug gets a lot of love in this reproduction and will be available in Pure White or Stonewashed Blue. The convertible top will be covered in a dark blue denim like material. The rest of the car, including the interior will sport lots of denim-inspired designs including back pockets and even a red-tab to resemble your favorite pair of blue jeans.
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VW also announced the 2016 Beetle Dune that gives a nod to the Baja Beetle of yesteryear. Available in both coupe or convertible, the Dune offers more aggressive styling and raised ground clearance. The new model will be sold alongside the rest of the Beetle family and will certainly appeal to drivers that are looking for a Beetle that sits higher and has a wider track. There’s a lot to like about this model, a new lighting package to augment the new front bumper, larger air intake, 18-inch wheels that augment the car’s raised look, and new 6.3-inch infotainment system. The Dune will be available in Sandstorm yellow, Pure White or Deep Black Pearl early next year with the convertible set to roll out later in the third quarter of 2016.
Both new Volkswagen Beetle models will be equipped with a 1.8 liter direct-injection, turbocharged TSI 4-cylinder engine, 170 hp and 184-pound feet of torque.
Show Press Release
VOLKSWAGEN REVISITS FAN FAVORITE WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE 2016 BEETLE DENIM
The special edition Beetle Denim is a contemporary tribute to the 1970s Beetle Jeans model
Exclusive short-run model, arriving in dealerships in early 2016
Equipped with 17-inch Heritage wheels and 1.8-liter TSI® engine
Original interior design, including unique seating surfaces and jeans-inspired seat pockets
Herndon, VA – Volkswagen of America Inc. announced today the launch of the special edition 2016 Beetle Denim. Paying homage to the 1970s Jeans Bug, the vehicle revives the rich heritage of the Beetle brand, offering fans a modern take on this classic model.
As a special edition vehicle, exclusive design elements have been added to the 2,000 production units. The 2016 Beetle Denim is offered in two exterior color options—Pure White or Stonewashed Blue. The production run will be split equally between the two colors. The convertible top has been finished in Dark Blue with a brand new textured fabric that resembles denim.
Interior design features include a unique light-blue-and-silver dashpad and jeans-inspired seat pockets with small Beetle tabs in red. The light blue denim-color cloth seating surfaces also feature white piping and dark blue leatherette accents.
For model year 2016, the vehicle is equipped with Volkswagen’s new MIB II Composition Color infotainment system, which offers higher resolution, faster processing speeds, and crisper graphics than ever before. A 5.0-inch resistive touchscreen display comes with a host of standard features including AUX-in, SD card slots, and a USB multimedia interface with iPhone® and iPod® device connectivity, reverse camera display, and Bluetooth® technology for compatible devices.
Available in the United States with a 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Beetle Denim produces 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The 2016 Beetle Denim will be a value model in the Convertible lineup.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen, Golf R, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers.
Notes:
This press release and images of the 2016 Beetle Denim are available at media.vw.com. Follow us @VWNews.
“TSI”, “Volkswagen”, all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. “Bluetooth” is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. “iPod” and “iPhone” are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.
Features and technical data apply to models offered in the USA. They may differ in other countries.
2016 BEETLE DUNE BROADENS THE BEETLE LINEUP WITH NEW DESIGN AND PREMIUM FEATURES
Nov 17, 2015
Drawing inspiration from classic Baja Bugs, the Dune offers striking new design features plus premium content
Offered as both a coupe and a convertible
More aggressive exterior styling features new bumpers, side moldings, wheel design, and raised ground clearance
New technology for Beetle lineup includes LED taillights and Park Distance Control
Standard equipment for Beetle Dune Coupe includes VW Car-Net® App-Connect technology, USB connectivity, and rearview camera
New available Lighting and Technology Packages
Herndon, VA – Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the production version of the 2016 Beetle Dune, which will go on sale early next year. Inspired by classic Baja Bugs, the vehicle will enter the Beetle family as a new trim, offering a rugged addition to the rest of the model lineup.
“The new Dune successfully captures the iconic spirit of Baja Beetles, with a more rugged feel and amenities never before offered on the third-generation Beetle,” said Joerg Sommer, Vice President, Product Marketing and Strategy, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “With its sporty and aggressive design and a number of the new technology features, we are confident that the new Dune will appeal to both new and returning Beetle customers.”
Overall, the Beetle Dune has a more aggressive appearance than the rest of the Beetle range, thanks to the fitment of new front and rear fascias and pronounced black wheelarch extensions that flow into the bumpers. Additionally, the Dune’s raised ride height of 0.4 inches and track that is 0.6 inches wider give it a more rugged stance.
Highlighting the front end’s sporty look, the new front bumper features a large central air intake that widens towards its bottom edge, and a black honeycomb screen has an aluminum-look surround that morphs into the front skid plate. On either side of the intake, two black honeycomb vents contain the foglights. A Lighting Package will be available, which will add Bi-Xenon headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights and LED license plate lighting.
The side of the vehicle is characterized by the contrast between the polished aluminum sills and the black trim strips that are reminiscent of the original Beetle running boards. Distinctive 18-inch Canyon aluminum-alloy wheels are fitted with 235/45 all-season tires. The side mirrors have contrasting black lower portions and Reflex Silver uppers, and “Dune” graphics are displayed on both doors. At the back, the Dune features a large rear spoiler, standard LED taillights, and a new bumper design that integrates matte black and aluminum elements, as at the front of the car. The rear diffuser also acts as a skid plate.
Inside, the 2016 Beetle Dune features sport seats with contrasting orange stitching and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. Standard equipment includes the latest generation MIB II infotainment system, which serves as the foundation for Volkswagen’s available Car-Net® suite of features. VW Car-Net connectivity includes App-Connect technology which allows integration with the three major smartphone platforms—Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink®—allowing seamless integration for compatible smartphones.
The Dune is fitted with the Composition Media infotainment system that has a 6.3-inch screen with a capacitive touch sensor (similar to smartphone and tablet technology) that enables gesture controls like swiping and pinch-zooming. MIB II also features a proximity sensor, which detects when a hand is nearby and automatically switches its display to allow easier selection of specific features. USB and Bluetooth® connectivity for compatible devices are standard, along with a rearview camera and the Park Distance Control system. A Technology Package will also be available, which adds Climatronic® dual-zone automatic climate control, the award-winning Fender® Premium Audio System, KESSY® keyless access with push-button start, and a tilt-and-slide sunroof.
The 2016 Beetle Dune will be available in three exterior colors: Sandstorm Yellow, Pure White, or Deep Black Pearl. Sandstorm Yellow cars have an interior that features body color upper door trims and dashpads, whereas the Pure White and Deep Black Pearl vehicles have black door and dashpad trim.
At launch, the Beetle Dune 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. The Dune coupe 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.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen, Golf R, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers.
Notes:
This press release and images of the 2016 Beetle Dune are available at media.vw.com. Follow us @VWNews.
“Climatronic”, “KESSY”, “TSI”, “VW”, “Volkswagen”, all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. “Car-Net” is a registered trademark of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “Apple CarPlay” is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. “Bluetooth” is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. “MirrorLink” is a registered trademark of the Car Connectivity Consortium LLC. “Fender” is a registered trademark of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. “Android Auto” is a trademark of Google Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Features and technical data apply to models offered in the USA. They may differ in other countries.
Always pay careful attention to the road, and do not drive while distracted.