Did Volkswagen tease a new vehicle in their Christmas card? This year, the automaker sent a corporate Christmas card, where an unfamiliar beach buggy appears in silhouette.

The Christmas card in question shows Santa Claus driving a Volkswagen brand, open top, lifted buggy. It's presumably a beach buggy, thanks to the knobby tires on the front and sand flag on the rear. The detail behind the vehicle's cutout is surprisingly detailed for a vehicle that doesn't yet exist. The image can be seen above, with increased contrast for better viability.

There had been rumors over the last month regarding a VW beach buggy. It was supposedly part of a three-model retro electrification project. The other two models are reported as an ID Buzz microbus and a Beetle style hatchback.

The original beach buggy was a kit car (a build it yourself vehicle) released in the mid-'60s by Bruce Meyers. It was originally for desert racing, but it found use in a wide variety of sandy environments.

The next major auto show is the 2019 Geneva Auto Show next March. It's possible we will learn more then.

Then again, perhaps VW is just throwing us for a ride.