- The electric Volkswagen Bulli Concept, another re-creation of the original Volkswagen Microbus, debuted at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show on Monday.
- Volkswagen tells Inside Line that there are no production plans for the electric minivan and no plans to bring it to the 2011 New York Auto Show.
- The six-seat VW Bulli has a driving range of 186 miles.
GENEVA — Volkswagen unleashed a thunderbolt at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, debuting the electric Volkswagen Bulli Concept, a post-modern and eco-friendly take on the original Volkswagen Microbus.
But American consumers who envision parking one in front of their beach house may be in for a wait.
"At this point, it's just a concept," said Corey Proffitt, Volkswagen of America spokesman in a phone conversation Monday with Inside Line. "There are no production plans. Based on the reaction, we'll see where it goes." When asked if the compact Volkswagen Bulli Concept will be shown at the upcoming 2011 New York Auto Show, Proffitt said "no plans."
Rumors have been rampant in the European press that VW is working on a latter-day Microbus for introduction in 2013-'14. The automaker previously showed a Microbus concept 10 years ago at the Detroit show, but later canceled production plans, reportedly because of cost considerations. Instead, VW commissioned a mildly revised derivative of the Dodge Caravan, which it sells in the U.S. as the VW Routan.
While similar conceptually to the 2001 Microbus, the Volkswagen Bulli Concept is edgier-looking than its predecessors, with angular horizontal headlights, muscular wheel arches and "infotainment control via iPad," said the automaker in a statement. The concept features a retro two-tone red-and-white exterior paint treatment, with an overall shape that will rekindle memories of the class VW van. The Bulli rides on a 102-inch wheelbase and is 66 inches tall.
The Bulli is equipped with an electric motor that generates 114 horsepower, along with a lithium-ion battery. VW said the Bulli has a range of 186 miles — surprisingly high versus most EVs. It accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 11.5 seconds and has a top speed of 87 mph.
In an intriguing footnote that seemed to hint at future production possibilities, the German automaker said that the concept "can also incorporate Volkswagen's extremely efficient gas and diesel direct-injection engines as alternative drives." It specifically noted that those engines have a 1.0- or 1.4-liter displacement.
The Bulli concept gets a single bench seat in the front and a Fender sound system. The removable iPad in the center console controls the Bluetooth hands-free telephone and a navigation system. VW noted that the Bulli lacks a tachometer and a conventional gearshift lever. It is replaced by a rotary switch to the right of the driver which is used to activate the gears.
As with the old VW van, the seat system can be "transformed into a large reclining surface with just a few manual movements" to turn it into "a compact camper."
Introduced in late 1949, the original VW Type 2 Transporter was based on the rear-engined chassis of the VW Beetle (Type 1). Over several decades, VW developed a wide number of variants on the same chassis, including a panel van, two- and four-door pickups, several campers and even an ambulance.
While the Type 2 was phased out of production in Germany in 1967, aging VW microbuses covered in flower decals and psychedelic paint have long since become pop-culture cliches linked to American hippies and the "Flower Power" movement of the '60s.
Inside Line says: A generation of Baby Boomers with fond memories of the old VW Microbus will undoubtedly say "build it." An electric version should have cross-generational appeal on top of it. — Anita and Paul Lienert, Correspondents
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cincycubfan23 says:
06:55 PM, 03/15/2011
This is cool. Would be very cool with a TDI or a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. Unfortunately, even if it did come here with a TDI or as a diesel hybrid, it wouldn't get my dollars.
It's a function of my/our current phase of life. You can barely fit a briefcase + a PB&J sandwich behind the second row. With two kids and lots of long-distance Christmas road trips, need something more practical. But I also want something kinda cool, or at least fun to drive.
I don't fully agree with jwilly48519. You bet Routan was a colossally STUPID idea (and is the most-frequently mentioned topic in my posts...Hopefully someone inside VW is listening!). Is there a market, however, for a well-executed, impeccably built, VOLKSWAGEN minivan, especially one with diesel power that is a blast to drive (3.0L???)? That's where my dollars would be. (Hopefully I wouldn't need 47,000+ of them to get a diesel, a la Touareg.)
Oh, and do make it reliable :-)
rainbowdash42 says:
01:10 PM, 03/04/2011
When I heard "new electric VW bus" on the news, I was momentarily psyched. A few years ago I regularly saw an awesome white Vanagon campervan parked in my community college lot, and then one day, after a long time of admiring it, I spied a "For Sale" sign in the window. Ding, ding, ding! A dream vehicle was sitting right there, up for grabs. I've been told I should've been a hippie in the 60s. And I have a passionate love for recreational vehicles and travel, so I'd dearly adore to have a camper conversion.....or any VW!!...
Sadly, my dad didn't support my idea, holding that the beautiful thing would be 'unsafe to drive' (at least for someone of my age and driving experience at the time), and difficult to maintain and repair. After a
good fight I reluctantly let go of my exciting fixer-upper ideas,
practically deciding that it was for the best; that one would no doubt go to an ideal home, and had been my inspiration for someday finding the perfect VW Bus for me and making it my very own.
So, now, for years I've been lamenting the fact that there's nothing
being made that's comparable to the VW buses. I'd absolutely love to one day acquire an old one, maybe convert it to electric...but to be able to get a new, improved, modern one that's just like the near-perfect old ones in most ways WOULD be pretty amazing, no?
I have to say that I LOVE "boxy" vehicles. The boxfish is one of my favorite creatures on the planet. And I love the Scion xB, Kia Soul, Honda Element, and quite a lot of other things I've seen with unique and recognizable shapes and styles. Just two months ago I got a new car, and had wanted a Nissan Cube. Once again on my dad's well-researched opinion, I wound up with my beloved metallic lime green Ford Fiesta for certain reasons. But anyway, point being, I LIKE the appearance of that new thing--it's just that it looks like a variation of some other modern
vehicles, not a VW bus. But for the logo on the front, I wouldn't even imagine that that's what it's trying to be. I love this IDEA very much, and hope it comes to fruition. The notion of making significantly more environmentally-friendly vehicles practical to purchase and use appeals to me a great deal. Electricity, hybridism, solar power, biofuel--I eagerly await the future development and spread of it all! Especially if and when it becomes more efficient and practical than, and replaces, normal combustion engines.
But again, they ought to essentially recreate the old buses/vans! The pop-tops, the different styles...that's what I really want, anyway. Having it new and improved and so enviro-friendly would be a super bonus. I don't want to judge this prematurely, because as I said, I don't dislike it at all. It just doesn't look different enough from a more average vehicle, now that I really look...it's not what you expect to see when you hear of a new/returned/updated VW bus. Having seen photos of the interior, I have to say, it simply does NOT appear to be one at all. I'm certainly delighted that they're in the process of bringing them back, and in electric form, but, they need to keep working...as it is, this can't replace the oldies, and there've even been better efforts in the past. How hard is it to just build basically the same thing, anyway? Why mess with it? Modernization doesn't always equal improvement...
djcpearl1 says:
07:28 AM, 03/03/2011
I love the VW Bus. How awesome is this???? Kinda tells my age too. LOL. Just what the US needs right about now. Hope it comes over here soon.
so_square says:
10:41 AM, 03/02/2011
Now, the timing is right. $3.50/gal + gas will get people to buy smaller vehicles, but we still need cargo haulers like the Bulli.
VW needs to step up to the plate with some modern marketing. Take some refundable deposits from would-be buyers, to honestly guage interest. How many people put down $100 for a Nissan Leaf that they will never buy? But it helped get the product to market.
Tell me your going to build it, and I'll start saving up to buy one in 2014!
mcnaughton says:
09:14 AM, 03/02/2011
VW's Bulli concept, the VW Bus, Jerry Garcia and Yogi; deja vu all over again?
http://wp.me/pGyRI-r2
McNaughton Automotive Perspectives
http://autoperspectives.com
jwilly48519 says:
11:15 PM, 03/01/2011
If Volkswagen were offering a US-built 2001-concept Bauhaus-descended Neu Microbus with AWD and a reasonable gasoline or turbodiesel engine, I'd have one in my garage instead of my new Buick Enclave.
The Bulli concept photographs well, but most buyers on actually seeing one would realize that it's Euro-small, i.e. not a practical vehicle...it's just another econo minicar but with a boxy body, with no carrying capacity. The stubby Euro market space is adequately filled. This is the US, where people drive full sized pickups. "Big-enough-to-haul-stuff" sells much better than "stubby".
The Routan idea has long since proven itself to have been a business and marketing mistake. The mom-oriented-family-hauler space already was adequately filled, and it was an insult to the market for VW to rebadge the Chrysler product and call it different. The market responded appropriately by spending its money elsewhere, and by thinking less of VW overall.
VW still has an opportunity, though, to jump into the youth/young-at-heart premium activity vehicle/design-forward personal hauler segment, with equal gender appeal. The only entrants there now are quirky. I'd think VW'd be eager to be in a segment that isn't already Japanese dominated, that links to VW's unique design heritage, that allows them to reinforce the AWD message, and that gives them a readily-visually-differentiated marketing pitch for US customers.
caroftheweek says:
10:37 PM, 03/01/2011
+1 juan_mx
It's sitting on a wheelbase only 0.5" longer than a GTI, so.. think Scion xB or Nissan Cube done VeeDub style.
I say outfit it with a GTI-quality interior, the 2.0T engine and that glass roof -- and you've got a cool, fun to drive people-and-stuff mover! I'd pay $5k more for the above vs. equivalent tin boxes from Japan.
powderhound says:
03:33 PM, 03/01/2011
VW Shaggin Wagon!!
tdiluv says:
06:31 AM, 03/01/2011
First concept was too expensive to go to production. Do this and drop a diesel option in it and get it out there as all other vans are "NOT COOL" and are too big, heavy, and suck fuel! This will even sell to old mom and pops!
mce63 says:
09:37 PM, 02/28/2011
Who cares. In typical VW fashion, if anything close to this were to actually be produced, the development cycle will take so long that it would be dated before it hit the streets. Concepts are fine, but the competition is moving full speed while VW continues to dork around.