Volkswagen is one of those brands that evokes a lot of nostalgia. The Who is an iconic band from the 60's. That's why when Volkswagen decided to revisit the Microbus concept they looked to members of The Who for guidance. While not only playing a song titled Magic Bus, The Who also used a VW Camper for touring in their early years of existence. They encouraged Volkswagen by expressing interest in a more economical and safer update of the Camper.The new Camper concept being researched at Volkswagen is nicknamed Bulli. As with many current design trends, the Bulli will have a stripped out retro appearance. The aim is to appeal to more frugal consumers. The possibility is there if they can achieve demand for enough units. We just hope they keep them off the racetrack and inside the paddock.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Random Task @ Oct 20th 2007 7:27PM
Please make a camper... There are no small, cheap campers left. I even looked into a Honda Element, but no a replacement for the VWs....
fm @ Oct 20th 2007 7:30PM
That'd be cool imo. Always wanted a Vdub Bus. if they're able to sell it for under the $20k then I'm sure the babyboomers and those nostalgic of the 60s-70s (all those who know what 4:20 means) will love this car.
RWD fan @ Oct 20th 2007 7:51PM
Daimler could have so beaten them to the punch with a Westy type Sprinter SWB. I know there's already Sprinter conversions aplenty, but not a factory job, and not a simple poptop budget one.
naggs @ Oct 20th 2007 8:00PM
this is such a no brainer
Kotse @ Oct 20th 2007 8:02PM
With Winterkorn at the helm, aimed at decontenting and cutting manufacturing costs...this next try at resurrecting the Microbus (read as CUV) might just be doable this time around.
And oh yeah, slap in that US made a "B-Motion" oil burner..pleez!
whofan @ Oct 20th 2007 8:08PM
Too bad Keith Moon wern`t here to throw in his two cents.
a_wolfn @ Oct 20th 2007 8:16PM
The Microbus project has been in development hell for the past 8 years. People want a stylish minivan, so just bring out the damn thing already!
VWDUB @ Oct 20th 2007 8:25PM
if it has a rag top and 22 windows ill order one!
Yubastard @ Oct 20th 2007 8:31PM
me too! ;)
Calguy @ Oct 20th 2007 9:20PM
Yeah- it's time! With the world fully addicted to sport UTILITY, how VW's missed this one is wierd. Instead we're getting a VW coupesedan. Eh, ok. Whatever. As if the world needed another yuppie-trunk-mobile. However, the idea of a lean, cool looking mini van would really *connect* with disgruntled van drivers who don't dare buy another SUV. Especially as the stuffy, old-man Chryslers have debuted to a chorus of snores.. nothing could me more obvious.
Maestro1 @ Oct 20th 2007 9:22PM
I think its a great idea, and if they can make it stylish then there's definitely a chance that they could break into the Scion crowd. If it looked something like that main pic design-wise it would definitely give VW something to distinguish themselves from the other European carmakers.
I don't think it'll be classed like Minivans, because VW Minibuses re kind of in a class of their own.
Daniel Cowan @ Oct 21st 2007 12:19AM
Maestro 1,
I agree. This needs to look better if they want to sell it. Besides that, they need to make it safe, and one up the Chrysler Town and Country and take back their table they originally had. These could have classic written on them some day. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We haven't gotten to the flowers, Pac- man and Tie die tops. We shall wait and see.
Greek Boy @ Oct 20th 2007 9:28PM
The only thing that VW should be considering, is how to improve their pathetic quality.
Bill @ Oct 20th 2007 9:58PM
VW continues to rely on nostalgia for their survival. And they want to outsell Toyota in the US? What a LAUGH!
Calguy @ Oct 20th 2007 10:14PM
Wait a minute.. isn't VW doin a re-badge of the new, stuffy Chrysler vans? Oh brother.. let's hope the reporting is accurate and that they're not just doing a badge engineering on a Caravan.
94 taurus owner @ Oct 20th 2007 10:41PM
DO IT VW DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marvelous @ Oct 20th 2007 10:51PM
I see it now, Volkswagen has no direction,(great cars) ,but no direction. They should of done the first Microbus concept. They could have just updated the Eurovan platform and restyled it like the concept which was so cool. Now the concept is old and lost a lot of its appeal. They could have easily done to the Microbus what they did with the New Beetle, the same era and appeal. That would have been their turn around. Now they got so called Passat coupe coming ou that doesnt even look like a coupe. Hardly a sloping roofline, no high belt line and I'm sure its gonna be another Phaeton smash hit. (Actually I always liked the Phaeton ,but I dont have the money to buy it so it doesnt matter)
akatsuki @ Oct 20th 2007 11:06PM
I think they are fools for not having done it already. But the key issue is whether they are going after the minivan market which means a fairly large and well-equipped vehicle, or the smaller vehicle like a Scion xB (which is what they should go for.)
And I can only hope that they don't make that ridiculous techno-fetish van that they showed earlier, but something a bit warmer and approachable.
Wes @ Oct 20th 2007 11:45PM
you mean more frugal customers. Just add an "r" to fugal and you're all set.
chuck goolsbee @ Oct 20th 2007 11:54PM
Why they haven't been selling these things for the past 5 years is beyond me. Oh and VW... DIESEL. It has to be a Diesel.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
(Vanagon owner '89-'97)