The Dune arrived last year and caused quite a stir amongst the VW Beetle faithful. I’m not talking about those who adhere to the wonderful little air-cooled rear-engine “Bug” that put Volkswagen…

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
Ready for something altogether different? Meet VW’s Beetle Dune, a crossover “Bug” that pulls inspiration from classic dune buggies. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

The Dune arrived last year and caused quite a stir amongst the VW Beetle faithful.

I’m not talking about those who adhere to the wonderful little air-cooled rear-engine “Bug” that put Volkswagen on the global map more than half a century ago, but more so those weaned on the modern-day front-engine, front-drive version that wowed the world as the Concept One when it hit VW’s Detroit auto show stage in 1994 and eventually arrived as the New Beetle in 1997.

It was thoroughly and effectively redesigned in 2010 for the 2011 model year, the “New” internally named A4 version then old, resulting in the simpler “Beetle” nameplate getting the nod for this A5-based third-generation. It remains less frou-frou and therefore appeals to brawnier types, which has inevitably led to some very eye-catching special editions.

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
You’ll stand out in a crowd with this pseudo-SUV, and get farther off-road than with any other modern-day Beetle. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

The best of these, in my opinion, is the Classic that arrived for 2015, which now seems to be a permanent fixture within the Beetle lineup, whereas the crossover-styled Dune is on its second year, with a convertible version added for 2017, so it appears this wonderfully unorthodox new addition will become a perennial regular too.

The Dune does a pretty good job of toughening up the Beetle’s less than masculine image, as seen here at its photo shoot next to a local river about five kilometers from my home. The gritty dirt underneath and natural background seems fitting, this being the “dune buggy” of the family, although a Golf Alltrack might be the more capable compact VW to take up and over unpaved hills.

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
The 2017 Beetle Dune comes one way, fully loaded with a surprising allotment of features. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

The expected SUV-like matte black plastic cladding is tastefully applied as a lower body wraparound, adding a little more beef around the wheel cutouts, while VW spiffs up the design with aluminum-look grille trim and undertrays front and rear. A 10-mm raised “Rough road” suspension adds to the crossover look, allowing more room for a decidedly non-4×4-like set of 18-inch machine-finished Canyon alloys, while wider front and rear tracks and a thicker 23-mm front stabilizer bar make sure that any additional top-heaviness is offset by added stability and extra rigidity in the suspension.

Exclusive Sandstorm Yellow Metallic paint (it’s also available in Deep Black Pearl and Pure White) gets carried over to the dash and door uppers inside, where it’s joined by Curry Yellow piping and stitching on the otherwise black leatherette bolstered seats with Dark Ceramique cloth inserts (no matter the exterior colour chosen), while the Curry Yellow stitching is also found on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter boot, handbrake handle, and centre armrest.

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
No matter the exterior colour choice, you get this unique Yellow Curry accented interior. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

The $28,890 Dune hardtop is not only a style icon taken to the next level, but it’s a well-equipped daily driver filled with the types of features today’s buyers want, such as auto on/off HID headlights with delayed shut-off, LED daytime running lights, fog lamps, LED taillights, heated power-adjustable side mirrors, proximity-sensing access with pushbutton start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, heatable front seats, a 6.3-inch colour infotainment touchscreen with proximity-sensing digital buttons, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, a backup camera, navigation, two SD card slots, a USB port, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, eight-speaker 400-watt Fender audio, a large power moonroof, front and rear parking sensors, an alarm, and more.

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
Beetles are more practical than you might think. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Front-wheel motivation comes via VW’s 1.8-litre turbocharged and direct-injected 1.8-litre four-cylinder that’s capable of 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and partially due to its six-speed auto with Tiptronic manual mode is rated at 9.7 L/100km in the city and 7.2 on the highway. While it looks like an off-road warrior the Dune isn’t available with 4Motion all-wheel drive, but its electronic traction and stability control, amongst other driving aids, reportedly help it go farther into the wilderness than most would think possible, but unfortunately we won’t be bushwhacking this week.

We will be enjoying the Beetle Dune on the streets of our fair city instead, although this week it’s particularly cool and cloudy, albeit mostly dry, so we probably won’t be taking it to the beach where it would fit in most ideally.

Either way, come back for a full review where we’ll give you the ins and outs of its passenger and cargo compartments, the pluses and minuses of its driving dynamics, the pros and cons of is various features, all the while wandering through various (hopefully entertaining) digressions…

BMW is the ultimate niche filler. Seriously. The Munich-based premium marque manages to create obscure niches within the unique niches few other luxury rivals dare tap into, and when others don’t work…

2017 BMW X4 M40i

2017 BMW X4 M40i
For those who can’t make up their minds between a sport coupe and an SUV, BMW makes the fabulous X4. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

BMW is the ultimate niche filler. Seriously. The Munich-based premium marque manages to create obscure niches within the unique niches few other luxury rivals dare tap into, and when others don’t work for their namesake brand they adapt them for Mini or Rolls-Royce?

The X4 was the obvious result of downsizing the already successful X6, the result of which sees even more sales than the larger mid-size model. Last year the X4 found 1,236 Canadians who liked the idea of a five-door sports coupe mixed with a compact SUV, whereas 1,178 BMW buyers chose the larger of the two. These aren’t game-changing sales compared to 5,417 X3s and 6,942 X5s sold within the same 12 months, but every little bit adds up, as BMW has also learned with its multiple 3 Series, 4 Series and 6 Series body styles.

2017 BMW X4 M40i
The X4’s low profile is sporty, and its M40i upgrades even more so. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Regarding the five-door coupe-cum-SUV (or whatever you want to call it), a nod should be given to Infiniti for its original FX that more or less originated the idea and subsequent QX70 (still available, albeit rare), while Land Rover’s Range Rover Evoque took the concept down one size to the entry-level SUV class, and even went so far to create a three-door SUV coupe and now a two-door convertible variant (it’s a lot cooler than it sounds).

Hitting even more at BMW’s core, Mercedes recently responded directly with the compact GLC Coupe and mid-size GLE Coupe, while a special mention should go out to Acura and its ill-fated ZDX, a model most people loathed (hence its cancellation) and I happen to still love.

2017 BMW X4 M40i
The X4 cabin is superbly crafted and M40i detailing particularly nice. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

BMW makes two versions of the X4, starting with the more fuel-friendly $48,700 X4 xDrive28i and topped off with the bahn-storming $60,700 X4 M40i. That means the X4 xDrive35i has been discontinued, but due to the latter, which entered the scene last year, no one should shed any tears.

Where the xDrive35i was a blast to drive due to its twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six that made 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, the M40i takes the same engine and puts a much more engaging 355 horsepower and 343 lb-ft down to its four torque-vectoring wheels. Like the less potent model, the M40i utilizes an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters; a version of that transmission also incorporated into the entry-level X4 xDrive28i, which incidentally is good for 241 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

2017 BMW X4 M40i
A sports car profile mixed with the heightened visibility of an SUV. (Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press)

Of course, there’s a lot more than extra oomph behind the top-line model’s “M” badge. Along with some unique styling details, larger wheels and tires, bigger brakes, a sport suspension, exclusive interior trim, and more, the M40i also includes launch control for a blistering 4.9-second standing start to 100km/h.

Important news that just can’t wait for my upcoming review is the inclusion of BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment across the line, which features an ultra high-resolution display filled with a completely new menu design, faster processing, and enhanced graphics.

There’s so much more to tell you about, so make sure to come back and find out why adventuresome kid-less couples should consider an X4 over an X3…