The Volkswagen Transporter 1 (T1), which we called the microbus and Germans called it the Bulli, debuted in 1950 and surfers and stoners and campers have loved it ever since.
During VW's trip down retro lane in 2001, VW released a new concept microbus. The reaction was strong, but around 2005, the plan fell through and VW couldn't rationalize a business plan for a small lifestyle van. But 2010 was a different year. VW made something like $9.4 billion in profit and have been screaming about design, design, design all year. They even bought a majority stake in Italdesign.
But this isn't a product of Italdesign (we'll have some more on that project tomorrow), this is a product of Volkswagen's new "design DNA" headed by Walter de Silva (Head of VW Group Design) and Klaus Bischoff (Head of Design of the VW brand). Design DNA is “based on the styling principles of the bestselling Beetle, Golf I and T1.” Fair enough, and fitting.
The specs they talk about on the new microbus seem fairly irrelevant at this point as this isn't a prototype and the figures are still fictional. Still, here they are: The Bulli is an FWD electric van (though a 1.0 or 1.4-liter motor will be available-- if they make it) with an 85 kW motor making 199 pound-feet of torque. There's a lithium ion battery with max storage of 40kWh giving a range of 186.4 miles and boasting a charge time if only one hour. The Bulli is 156 inches long, 68.4 inches wide and 66 inches tall with a 54 inch track.
There's a split-folding front bench (aweeeesome) which folds into the folding second (and rear-facing third) to make a flat sleeping surface. "California" was mentioned frequently as an inspiration. The iPad controls the infotainment system and, frankly, Apple products in VW cars seems like a no-brainer.
Yep, that's our European Correspondent, Alistair Weaver, getting comfortable in the new Bulli.
ed124c says:
04:04 PM, 02/28/11
There really doesn't seem to be room for people in the rear facing third row seat, but now I see what VW has done: The original van had the driver's and front passengers feet practically sticking out onto the front bumper. Now, with this concept, they have reversed it, and your little kids will have their feet practically sticking out onto the REAR bumper. I am not very comfortable with that setup. The Mazda5 is about a foot or so longer and there is still some storage capacity behind the third row seats (front-facing, of course.) 156 inches is not long enough to fit three rows of seating.
bankerdanny says:
09:04 AM, 03/ 1/11
VW had a perfecty good Microbus reboot set and killed it. This vehicle offers none of the cool retro appeal that that one did.