VW's new Beetle Dune is a modern 'Baja Bug' for your daily commute

LOS ANGELES — The Baja Bug — a modified Beetle designed to go off-road — originated in the 1960s when owners lifted their Bugs and put big ol' off-road tires underneath the compact coupe. With the body high in the air, people used to toss the original "people's" car into places its German designers never imagined it'd never go.

Since then, though, VW has been lacking a car that captured the Baja Bug's quirky and rugged attitude. That changes today, however, with the 2016 Beetle Dune.

Unlike the Baja Bug, which could tackle sand and stumps, the Beetle Dune is likely all cosmetic with no real extra off-road capability. Despite that, though, it's definitely distinctive. Read more...