VW Dune Buggy: Concept where EVs and the 1960s meet

• The VW concept was inspired by American buggies of the 1960s and 1970s.
• The VW Dune Buggy is a modern vehicle that shows off the versatility of VW’s new EV platform.
• We’re not giving up on the hope of a production-ready version.

When I saw the VW Dune Buggy for the first time, I thought that it was an upcoming prop in a sci-fi film. Tron II, the Electric Tron-a-Loo? VW is not kidding. As serious as you can get with a show vehicle. Dune Buggy, or the ID as it is officially known, has been designed to do just that. The Geneva International Motor Show is presenting BUGGY.

Did I mention that it’s an electric vehicle?

Plan Ahead

VW is serious about their electric vehicle ambitions. They must be. VW has no choice but to move away from ICEs after the diesel-gate fiasco. Der Peoples Kar will soon be offering (almost all) EVs. VW’s off-road electric vehicle is not as bizarre as it seems.

Home-Brewed Concoctions

It’s funny to think that the first dune buggies in the 1960s were not VW products. The original dune buggies were not VW products. They were home-brew specials, made with Beetle components, and not straight from the factory. Bruce Meyer, as I remember, was the man who started it all. It was called the Meyer Manx, but was referred to informally as “dune buggys”. The Manx is the origin of seemingly endless “specials”, made on Beetle platform. There were Porsche-like speedsters, race-car looking things, and endless variations of the Dune Buggy.

How could it not? The 60s were here! The Beach Boys Frankie & Annette! Ride The Wild Surf Dick Dale Greg Noll! This was the vehicle manifestation of every teenager who does not live in Iowa, and who wants to go to the beach.

Blast from the Past

Have you ever driven on of these? These things are a lot of fun. They’re a lot of fun. They are the most obvious flaws. It makes sense to travel from Hermosa Beach to Rincon in order to catch the best swell. But, why would you commute from Joliet to Chicago to attend a meeting with a client in February?

The Dune Buggy is a replica of the originals. It has an open side sill and no roof. Rollover support is provided by the reinforced windscreen frame, and the Targa (opened at the side). The windscreen frame can be covered with a black tarp to protect against the elements. The large off-road tire (BFGoodrich T/A All Terrain) and wheels are cartoonish and borderline goofy.

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The top is painted in a matte Fern Green while the bottom half is a textured Grey Tech Blue.

Showcase New Platforms

Unfortunately, the production version will not be made (although it would be cool). They are serious, but in a very different way. VW can now show off its engineering skills in relation to future EV platform. This Dune Buggy is based on VW’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB). The idea is that this platform can be used in many different ways.

VW says “Look at MEB” with the Dune Buggy. This is a smart move. It works for trucks, cars and even fun! No one is going to purchase an EV just to prove that they’re more hairshirt than thou. VW then says: “The MEB concept car shows that this platform is not limited to large-scale production models.” The MEB chassis has the same potential as the Beetle of old to help develop low-volume niche cars.

This sounds like a big corporation encouraging us to mess with this platform as we please. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Global Appeal

Around 250,000 vehicles worldwide were produced as low-volume or one-off models in the 1980s. VW has a two-base win with this statement. I assume they are referring to Beetle-based products. They show off their MEB electric vehicle platforms and hint that it will be released to hard-core shade-tree tinkerers.

VW Dune Buggy In Person

However, I would love to stay but heard that there was a huge swell headed for Steamer Lane so I have to leave. You can see the Dune Buggy at the Geneva International Motor Show, starting March 7th.

Later, brah!

Tony Borroz is a lifelong enthusiast of antique and sports cars. He is also the author of Bricks & Bones, The Endearing Legacy of The Indy 500 and Nitty Gritty Phenomenon Of The Indy 500. Both are available as paperbacks or Kindle formats. Follow his work on twitter: @TonyBorroz.