Tamiya Volkswagen Dune Beetle Cross: the 1/9 buggy introducing the BB-02 chassis

Photo: Tamiya (source)

The Tamiya Volkswagen Dune Beetle Cross is one of the most notable announcements of this back-to-school season: a 1/9 rear-wheel-drive buggy, item number 58757, which debuts an all-new chassis for the Japanese brand, the BB-02. The model draws openly on the race-prepared Beetles that used to tackle North American off-road events.

The BB-02 chassis, a new rear-wheel-drive platform from Tamiya

The logical successor to the BB-01 that carried the BBX, the BB-02 keeps the two-wheel-drive philosophy but sits on a redesigned architecture. All four wheels are independently suspended and the drivetrain is housed in a sealed gearbox with a built-in ball differential: enough to keep dust and sand at bay on loose surfaces.

The big news lies with the front suspension, supplied in two geometries the builder can choose from. Double trailing arms deliver long travel and reassuring behaviour on flat, hard-packed dirt. Double wishbones, on the other hand, improve ground contact and stability on jump landings and over rough terrain. The dampers, specifically designed for off-road use, are shaped to limit oil leaks.

A detailed Beetle body

The body is moulded in 1.0 mm thick polycarbonate and picks up the styling cues of competition Beetle buggies: roll cage, light pod and add-on body details. Tamiya also includes two figures, a driver and a co-driver, in a modern off-road style. The floor pan design incorporates front and rear tyre housings to protect the running gear from debris.

Dimensions and availability of the Tamiya Volkswagen Dune Beetle Cross

• Scale: 1/9
• Length: 454 mm
• Width: 204 mm (double trailing arms) or 225 mm (double wishbones)
• Height: 180 mm
• Wheelbase: 283 mm
• Drivetrain: 2WD, rear-wheel drive
• Item number: 58757

The kit is already listed for pre-order at several European dealers, with shop availability announced for the end of 2026. No official product page is online on the Tamiya website as we write these lines.