Car and Driver: Euro Trip: Volkswagen Unveils 2017 Euro-Spec Beetle in Germany

While we North Americans were obsessing over Monterey Car Week and the Woodward Dream Cruise, Volkswagen Beetle fans came together in Travemünde, Germany, as part of a wholly different sort of gathering: the Beetle Sunshine Tour. Making this year’s event especially noteworthy was Volkswagen’s decision to unveil the European 2017 Beetle line at the event.
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Here’s what we know about the North American-spec 2017 Volkswagen Beetle: the high-riding Dune spawns a convertible variant (pictured above); the retro-looking Beetle Classic springs back to life; a kitschy, new #PinkBeetle joins the line; and the R-Line’s racy looks are applied throughout the Beetle model lineup.

Nevertheless, if we’re to take anything from the revised Euro-spec Beetle it’s that Volkswagen may add the Dune’s upper-bumper grille treatment and flared fenders (painted black as opposed to the Dune’s matte) to the 2017 Beetle R-Line. We also may see a redux of last year’s Beetle Denim, only this time sporting the R-Line’s 2.0-turbocharged four-cylinder engine and wearing its exterior kit.

In Europe, there’s also the special-edition Beetle Cabriolet Karmann. The model, which celebrates the coachbuilder that famously produced the original Beetle convertible, sports a deep brown top with matching interior trim that’s unfortunately been christened “Sioux Brown”—a name that makes Dan Gilbert’s transgressions seem comparatively tame.

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• The Bug’s Life: A History of the Volkswagen Beetle-
• Tested: 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Convertible-
• Volkswagen Beetle: Price, Specs, Reviews, and More!-

We’d imagine if Volkswagen had any plans to bring the Beetle Cabriolet Karmann to our shores the brand would have announced it with the #PinkBeetle. While that car’s searing pink paint may offend the eyes, we’re happy to report it doesn’t offend an entire group of people. Volkswagen has yet to release pricing or an on-sale date for the U.S. versions of the 2017 Beetle.

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