This is the new VW Beetle Dune

‘T’is almost time for the LA Motor Show – or Auto Show, for the Americans among you – and Volkswagen has lined-up something a bit special. 

We jest. It’s a Beetle with some wheel arch extensions. It’s called the ‘Dune’ (remember the Polo Dune? Us neither), and as well as those wheel arch extensions, it gets a 10mm bump in ride height plus a wide array of rufty-tufty detailing which we shall now, erm, detail. 

There are new bumpers with integrated skid-plates front and rear, 18s on commendably sensible rubber all-round and some new vents just above where you’d normally stick a numberplate. Particularly forgetful buyers will have their memories jogged by the sizable ‘Dune’ stickers on both doors.

Inside it's business as usual, with little to set the Dune apart from the standard car save for an extra splash of colour on the dash, some fancy stitching and a 'Dune' badge or two. You can even have it as a convertible, if you're so inclined. 

Under the bonnet, it's all conventional Beetle. When it goes on sale in early 2016, Americans must have a 168bhp turbo-four, while us Europeans can choose from three petrols and two diesels with anything up to 217bhp.

What do we think, forward-thinking or a niche too far?