Volkswagen I.D. dune buggy previewed by Xmas card

Volkswagen has given a cheeky preview of its resurrected Volkswagen dune buggy by picturing a drawing of it on the car-maker's annual Christmas card.

The card, sent to Volkswagen media contacts throughout the industry, provides an image of the dune buggy (driven by Santa, naturally,) that looks strikingly similar to silhouette of the 2011 Volkswagen Buggy Up! concept.

As already revealed by carsales.com.au, Volkswagen will reveal a spiritual successor to the 1960s Meyers Manx dune buggy this March at the Geneva motor show that's set to borrow its pure-electric powertrain from the forthcoming Volkswagen I.D. Neo hatch.

Created to be a modern interpretation of the classic Beetle-based machine, this time based on the Volkswagen Group’s upcoming Modular Electric Platform (MEB), the next-gen dune buggy will be produced in limited numbers and is only feasible thanks to the flexibility of the state-of-the art platform.

Post Volkswagen's Dieselgate emissions crisis, introducing vehicles like the zero-emission dune buggy, it's hoped, will sprinkle some sparkle and add a bit of fun while the car-maker grapples with lowering local vehicle emissions.

According to Volkswagen, future MEB-based vehicles could be rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which could lead to far more interesting and characterful cars than the previous, perhaps cynical, Volkswagen Beetle Dune.