The VW Beetle may not be a car you would consider when tackling the rough stuff, but that’s all about to change. For the Beetle Dune is raised 10mm compared to the standard model and it sits on 18-inch alloy wheels with front and rear wheel arch extensions and bold new bumper designs to add to its rugged appeal. Although it won’t be up to tackling the toughest terrains it has certainly been engineered and styled to take on more challenging roads.

The car is available either as a cabriolet or hatchback and is powered by two engines. The 1.2-litre petrol TSI 105bhp powertrain is mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearbox. With either transmission the Dune accelerates to 62mph from a standing start in 11.3 seconds.  It is also available with a 2.0-litre TDI 150bhp diesel engine where it comes with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed auto DSG.

Fuel efficiency ranges from 51.4mpg for the 1.2 TSI manual to 62.8mpg for the 2.0 TDI manual while carbon emissions are from 117g/km.

The petrol-driven Beetle Dune is priced from £21,300 and the diesel version is on offer from £23,805. Soft-top versions range from £24,255 to £28,255 and the first models are due to be on the road in June.