The Volkswagen Beetle Dune is a Baja Bug throwback (pictures)

Volkswagen's Beetle Dune might be a throwback to the Baja Bug, but it'll be far more sensible on the road since it's still a passenger car underneath.

The Beetle Dune features a 0.6-inch wider track and a 0.4-inch higher ground clearance.

The Dune features matte-black elements all around the exterior, as well as polished aluminum side sills.

The front and rear features aluminum skid plates, and both bumpers have been upgraded for a slightly more aggressive appearance.

The Beetle Dune will be available in both coupe and convertible variants, with the coupe arriving in the first quarter of 2016 and the convertible following in the third quarter.

If you opt for the Sandstorm Yellow paint job, you'll get color-keyed dashboard and upper door-panel trim. Stick with black or white paint, and the interior will be all black.

Standard technology on the Beetle Dune includes a 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, USB ports and a backup camera.

The interior isn't much different from the standard Beetle, aside from the Dune's unique contrasting stitching that appears on the shift boot, the seats and the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Dune's drivetrain is the same as the standard Beetle's -- a 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.7

Both manual and automatic transmissions are available, each with six forward speeds.

The first of two available packages is the Lighting Package, which gives the car bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights and LED license-plate lights.

The second available package is the Technology Package, which includes dual-zone automatic climate control, a Fender-branded audio system, keyless access and a sunroof (for the coupe variant).

Volkswagen has not yet talked about availability in markets outside the US. It's mum on pricing info, as well.