IT'S the Volkswagen Beetle that's ready for a trip to the wild side and it is going on sale in Britain in time for summer.

The Beetle Dune won't tackle the toughest off-road tracks but it has been styled and engineered to give that bit extra on the rough stuff.

Ride height is raised 10mm compared to the standard car and the Dune sits on 18-inch alloy wheels with front and rear wheelarch extensions and bold new bumper designs.

The Beetle Dune is powered by a choice of two engines and is available either as a hatchback or a cabriolet.

A 1.2-litre petrol TSI version develops 105bhp and is available with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG gearbox. With either transmission the Dune accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 11.3 seconds.

It is also available with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel developing 150bhp where it comes with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed auto DSG.

Fuel economy ranges from 51.4mpg for the 1.2 TSI manual to 62.8mpg for the 2.0 TDI manual while COemissions range from 117g/km to 127g/km depending on engine and gearbox choice.

With safety in mind the Beetle Dune has ABS and Electronic Stability Control fitted as standard and the cabriolet version has rollover protection.

The petrol-engined new Beetle Dune costs from £21,300 and the diesel version is offered from £23,805. The soft-top versions range from £24,255 to £28,255 and the first models are due to be on the road in June.