Volkswagen To Launch Retro-Styled Bulli Concept For 2014: Rumor

The Car Connection
2011-08-15T07:00:00-07:00

Volkswagen Bulli ConceptGallery

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When Volkswagen unveiled its Bulli concept vehicle last March at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the response from the press and the public was fairly unanimous: "Build it!" Now, there are rumors that VW is preparing to do just that, and it could hit the U.S. by 2014.

The Bulli was a hit for at least two reasons. For starters, it's a squared-off multi-purpose vehicle, like countless others littering showrooms these days (e.g. the Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, and Scion xB). However, the Bulli feels a bit bigger and more grown up than some of those MPVs -- possibly a competitor with rides like the Ford Flex and a definite option for the young family looking for a hip alternative to the minivan.
But what really turned heads was the Bulli's styling: sleek and retro with a big greenhouse, reminiscent of the VW buses many folks remember from childhood. (In fact, the Bulli was a riff on the Microbus concept that VW debuted in 2001.) It was also an EV with a range of 185 miles and a recharge time of just one hour.

We can't vouch for the rumors about the Bulli's move to the production line, but group design chief Walter de’Silva has some enthusiasm for the idea: "We don’t have a space for another conventional MPV, but this one would be desirable on a different level, combining practicality with the heritage appeal."

And he's right: the Bulli would look great sitting alongside VW's other heavy-hitting heritage model, the new Beetle. Rumors point to production of the Bulli at VW's facility in Puebla, Mexico -- the same plant that produces the Beetle. If that's true, we could see the MPV in showrooms as part of VW's 2014 model-year lineup.

But don't expect the production Bulli to be an EV -- at least not yet. Rumors indicate that the road-ready version will have a conventional combustion engine. Either way, we're looking forward to it.

Volkswagen's U.S. CEO Pushes For Bulli Concept Production

The Car Connection
2011-04-06T11:00:00-07:00

VW Bulli Concept, from Volkswagen AG
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Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen of America, has the Bulli microbus concept at the very top of his “unfunded projects he’d like to see in production” list.

Image via WikipediaShown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, VW’s Bulli combines styling elements from the 1950s VW Type 2 Transporter and their 2001 Microbus concept. Unlike either of these earlier models, the Bulli is quite a bit smaller and meant to compete against the Kia Soul, Scion xB  and Nissan Cube. At the same time, a production Bulli wouldn't steal market share away from VW's Chrysler-sourced Routan minivan (a Camper variant of the Bulli would be all but useless).

Image via WikipediaStill, the Bulli’s styling and urban functionality would be enough to lure both former VW Bus owners, as well as a new generation of buyers, into Volkswagen showrooms. …

[Automobile via 4 Wheels News]

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AUTOWEEK HONORS VOLKSWAGEN BULLI MICROBUS WITH THE MOST FUN; EDITORS\' CHOICE AWARD FOR THE 2011 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Taume News

The new generation Microbus is more sustainable and inspirational than ever

Image via WikipediaHERNDON, Va.— The all-new Volkswagen Bulli concept car was named the "Most Fun" vehicle by Autoweek editors at this year's Geneva Motor Show. The VW Bulli – or Microbus as it's known by beloved fans in the U.S. – offers the same mix of fun and practicality found in VW vans all the way back to the original Bulli created more than 60 years ago.

Image via CrunchBaseWith this latest concept model, Volkswagen finished what it started ten years ago with the Bulli concept of 2001. This latest showstopper seats six on the bench seats that fold down into a large reclining surface. The new and improved vehicle is powered by an electric motor and features an infotainment control via iPad.

The Bulli accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 11.5 seconds, and its top speed is 87 mph (electronically limited). Its range and driving performance not only make the compact vehicle ideal for short distances; but also perfect for longer commutes and recreational activities – with an added bonus of zero tailpipe emissions.
Autoweek's Editors Choice Awards for the 2011 Geneva Motor Show will appear in the March 21 issue of the magazine.
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2011 Volkswagen vehicles come standard-equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt.

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Volkswagen Plans For World Domination

Motor Trend

…How will VW do it? Unless it quickly develops a $30,000 Honda Pilot competitor off the new Passat's platform, plus perhaps a new Microbus-style minivan to replace the Chrysler-based Routan -- two models that combined could add more than 200,000 units to annual sales -- the Passat and Jetta will have to become best-sellers in their segments with sales topping 300,000 per year each. Should total U.S. sales volume not reach 17 million, the 200,000 range is more likely, competitive with Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, and Chevrolet Malibu. That's about 400,000 for Jetta and Passat, just half the '18 goal.



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Golf-based Scirocco
Hackenberg and Browning emphasize efforts to improve quality scores in the U.S., long a major problem for the brand. They say much of VW's quality problems relate to design features that confuse and annoy Americans -- an explanation (or excuse) several competitors also use. While they talk about biting into Toyota and Honda sales, they don't mention Hyundai, which expects to sell 590,000 in the U.S. this year, or Kia.
"German engineering still has a very good image in the USA." Hackenberg says. "It is our job, and the job of Mr. Browning, to bring that to the customer."
VW has tried competitive pricing with Japanese brands and "affordable German engineering" in its marketing before, though not both at the same time. A mix of big, low-priced German sedans for the American market, and more interesting cars like the GTI and CC, might work this time. Until it does though, we don't envy Mr. Browning his task.

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2014 Volkswagen Microbus Illustrations

VW Operations 101: Piëch always gets his way—even if it takes 12 years.

Car and Driver
BY JENS MEINERS, ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTIAN SCHULTE
December 2010
Pages: 1 Photos

• Photos (16)

Image by SOCIALisBETTER via FlickrRemember the Microbus concept Volkswagen brought to the Detroit auto show in 2001? Styled under the direction of former VW design chief Hartmut Warkuß and a pet project of erstwhile VW CEO Ferdinand Piëch, it fell out of favor when Bernd Pischetsrieder took over as CEO and installed his own design head. Although the van had moved close to production—VW even had a plant in mind to build it—its lines did not fit former Peugeot and Mercedes designer Murat Günak's styling language, and the project was cancelled in 2006.

Piëch must have made a mental note, because now the Microbus is back, on the front-wheel-drive platform of the Touran, a Golf-derived compact minivan not sold in the U.S. The retro-futuristic van likely will be just slightly smaller than the original concept, but look nearly identical. It will be unveiled in 2013, and production is expected to start in 2014.
Motivation for the new Microbus will come from several engines in VW’s parts bin, including four-cylinder gas and turbo-diesels. Power will be channeled to the front wheels through a manual transmission or VW's six- or seven-speed dual-clutch gearboxes. All-wheel drive is a possibility, and VW might build a range-extended EV version in the style of the Chevrolet Volt.
U.S. sales are almost a certainty. The New Beetle had its greatest successes here, and the old "Lovebus"—which you can still buy new in Brazil as the Kombi—is still fondly remembered. Production of the Microbus will coincide with the launch of another new, bigger van, a replacement for the Chrysler-supplied Routan to be built in Tennessee on VW's own platform. It just goes to show that, in its race for world domination, VW will be paying equal attention to mainstream and niche. For that, we are grateful.

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The MA List: 6 Concept Cars That Cried Wolf!

The Car Connection

Source: MotorAuthority.com

2001 Volkswagen Microbus concept
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Concept cars are a mixed breed. Sometimes, they're the real thing slightly disguised, and sometimes they're way-off abstractions in the Tomorrowland vein.
In a handful of cases, concept cars are annoying knock-offs of the boy who cried wolf, without the bit that makes the fairy tale appealing. You know, the part where the boy gets eaten.

Image via WikipediaNow, to be fair, there's more reality in most any concept car than in an episode of Operation Repo. We can't remember how many times Honda or Lexus has placed a production-ready car on an auto-show stand and called it a "concept"--think Model X, LF-A. And even among the purest flights of fancy, there are some ideas that spring to life from them.

With auto show season in full swing, we're already hearing new talk about old trial balloons that have floated overhead, sometimes for most of the past decade, promising to take up real production-line space but never following up on those empty threats. These are the ones we'll have a hard time believing are real until someone can actually document a registration down at the local DMV.
The list of repeat offenders isn't too long, and some of them truly are lovely to contemplate. Still, we don't want to hear any more from these six concepts until they're ready to do something, or get off the pot. Or until they're eaten.
2001 Volkswagen Microbus

Image via WikipediaThis week's prattling on about a new Microbus has only reminded us of the long, sad history of VW concept vans. Yes, we were there when the 2001 concept captivated Detroit (!). And then it went dormant. A decade's worth of teasing didn't help--and neither did the 2009 Routan, an anti-Bus if there ever were one. Back in 2008, we gave you plenty of reasons to doubt the return of Microbus, but now it's VW teasing once more. With a new mid-size sedan coming, it's not out of the question that a big crossover with a Microbus badge might emerge from Chattanooga--but that flat-faced front end is a killer to recreate. And if it can't be done, is the result really a Microbus?

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Jimmy the Gun: Autoblog Takes Away My Thunder...VW Microbus

Jimmy the Gun

I started writing this post yesterday, but I was on kid duty and ran out of time to finish it.  Then today I see that Autoblog tweeted about VW's design chief saying a new Microbus is in the cards.  While that announcement is SOOOO exciting, it takes away my thunder.  But, I'm still posting this because I know my loyal fans need something new to read, as my blog has been lacking entries for a few weeks now.
Why don't I know how to use Photoshop? I need to know how to use it. I have so many ideas (I think are great) for vehicle revisions. Take Volkswagen for example. They created the Microbus in the 1950's. Now, they've moved to a modified Dodge Caravan, completely losing their focus on European design and ingenuity. Why? Because they think Americans want more crap? I don't know. But Dodge was sure not the way I would have gone. Look at the original Microbus or "Bus" as so many people call them.


This is a totally cool looking van. If it was modernized, like the Beetle (or "Bug") was, the Microbus could take a whole segment of vehicles retro and make the "minivan mom's" seem cool again. Nissan and Toyota redesigned their vans, but VW has the retro game down.  And, because VW has the nostalgia of the Bus, they could get away with some really cool things.  A few years back, they did come out with a Microbus concept, but it didn't take off for a few reasons.

First, VW did not do a great job with the headlights.  The original are round, not thin slices.  I'm not sure I would want the same style as the original, but something that is reminiscent of the old style would work better.  Here is why the round doesn't work:

Second, although pushing the wheels out to the edges is one of the things I love about VW's, this concept pushed the wheels beyond the outer edge to where they had to design fenders that popped out too far too.  Also, the rear wheels seem to be falling off the back of the van.
I do love that it is really close to the same shape as the original.  I love that there are vents in similar places to the original.  I love that inside it has some of the things the Bus is famous for, tables, movable chairs, etc.

I'm not sure about safety issues or why the engine can't be in the rear, except for the fact that this would never be built as a rear wheel drive vehicle, but it would be awesome if they built it that way.  If they did this, they could  push the driver forward even more, giving that "no nose" front end to the van.  Again, safety standards today may require a crumple zone in front to provide protection for the driver and front passenger, but I just wanted to mention it.  In reality, this is going to be a front or all wheel drive vehicle and the engine placement would work better in the front.
VW did have the Vanagon and the Eurovan, which were both pretty unsuccessful here in the USA, but they are more true to VW style than the current Routan, which is based on the Dodge Caravan.  The Vanagon and Eurovan were more boxy than rounded like the Microbus, but they had some of the VW interior queues that made these vans really practical.  This van still exists (not here in the USA) and its latest form is shown in these two pictures (silver is standard, black is customized).  I actually like these as a starting point for the new Microbus.


Finally, I'm not going to hold my breath for the new Microbus.  I've talked about it before and it hasn't happened yet.  I think the concept came out in 2001.  And now, here we are 10 years later and we have a Dodge Caravan to show for it.  Yuck!  So here's my standard letter to the company, as though they read my blog:
Dear Volkswagen,


First let me say, I learned to drive on a 1976 Diesel Rabbit,  I purchased a 1999 VW "New Golf" as my first new car purchase, and I'm now wishing I could replace my '99 (which is over 190K miles) with a 2011 Golf.  I love your company.  I believe you know how to make vehicles that are fun to drive.  I believe you know retro.  I think that American's love retro too.  The Beetle was a success, and other companies have had huge success with retro designs as well (Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Chevy Camaro).


It's time for a Microbus, one for those of us who need the capabilities of a van without all the ugly minivan stereotypes.  The VW Microbus could be that answer.  Take design queues from the old Microbus with modern family traits from today's T5 model.  Make us a retro style Microbus that no one will consider "just another minivan."


Do it right VW.  Do it well.  Make me proud to be a fan, a family man, and a future Microbus owner.




Sincerely,


Jimmy the Gun

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Quit Teasing: VW Says New Microbus Back on Design Table

Motor Trend Magazine

We know that a new New Beetle is certainly in Volkswagen's future product plans, but a new Microbus? The ever-expanding German automaker is once again teasing the automotive world with visions of a new-generation model sporting the legendary nameplate, but is far from deciding which direction it would take if indeed it brought it back.


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"I would not be doing my job at Volkswagen properly if I was not thinking of bringing back the Camper," Klaus Bischoff, head of design for the entire Volkswagen brand, recently told British publication Auto Express.


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This isn't exactly the first time Volkswagen has looked into tapping into its history to create a minivan chock full of nostalgia. In 2001, the company cranked out a retro concept which mated styling inspired by the first-generation Transporter with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive platform, a 3.2-liter V-6, and plenty of interior luxuries.
Image via WikipediaThe design was reportedly under consideration to replace the EuroVan here in the U.S., but Bischoff confirms development and manufacturing costs quickly killed the project. VW later adapted the Chrysler-based Routan to fill the minivan gap within its North American portfolio, but it hasn't exactly abandoned the idea of a modern Microbus. A resto-mod Chameleon concept (based off a 1964 Samba) appeared in 2006 to showcase a number of advanced technologies, while the 2007 SpaceUp! concept bore an eerie resemblance to the scuttled 2001 show car.
Bischoff notes designers are indeed working on a new 'Bus, but at this stage, they're still facing a number of difficult decisions. It's one thing to make a vehicle look like an old Microbus, but would such a basic, utilitarian vehicle fly in today's market, which demands tech-laden, family-friendly people movers? Should VW create a luxobus that abandons the funky flexibility of the original -- and, subsequently, Microbus purists?
"The key question is 'what sort of car should we build,'" notes Bischoff. "It could be a traditional MPV with a conventional interior, or we could be much bolder, designing a more flexible, versatile machine -- perhaps one that is closer in spirit to the original model. It is not yet decided."
Neither, it seems, is styling. Bischoff notes that, despite the Microbus' spiritual connection to North America, the current design "is very much a European project." Volkswagen's California design studios -- which, arguably, sparked the company's retro love affair by birthing the Concept 1 in 1994 -- will help contribute to the design, as will several of the automaker's global design facilities.
Will we see one? Seeing as the concept isn't anywhere close to completion, we'd argue it's far too soon to be discussing a production version. Still, if VW sees fit to push the new Microbus into production, we wouldn't likely see it on our shores until well after 2014.
What do you think, should VW finally bring back the Microbus? If so, what form should it take?
Source: Auto Express

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Volkswagen Vans - Different Options To Choose From

Volkswagen Vans offers three different vans options to choice from. They all have style and great performance as rated by the customers that have purchased them.

kokobware.net

Volkswagen EuroVan

Image via WikipediaFrom 1993 to 2003 Volkswagen manufactured the Eurovan. Earlier versions has a low power engine but thee Volkswagen Vans changed it because of customer demand. All models came stand with air conditioning, power windows, and power door locks. They also had driver and passenger side airbags. This can be found at dealerships that sell used vehicles or from individual owners. Overall customers who purchased this van have loved it especially the later models.

Volkswagen Routan

Image via WikipediaThe first year of making this van was in 2009.  It is a seven passenger van that offers a lot for a busy family. The Routan is built just like the Dodge Caravan and the Town and Country by Chrysler. Actually the are all made at the same plant in Canada. This van has a European feel to it. It is still very stylish and full of features. This van has room for seven passengers and all their stuff. The Volkswagen Vans Routan has thirteen cup holders, this alone can almost decide if you may want to purchase this van. Plus there is a third row fold in the floor seat. Additionally included in all models are rear and front 12V power outlets for all your gadgets charging needs.

Volkswagen Vanagon

Image via WikipediaThis van was manufactured from 1988 to 1991. There were several versions to choose from during that time span. You had  the standard Vanagon, Vanagon GL, GL Camper, Carat,  Multivan, and finally the Wolfsburg Limited Edition. They all came with a 2.1 liter engine. These vans were considered the ultimate family vehicles with carpeting , air conditioning, front bucket seats, and a padded instrument panel. Most owners of these vehicles are in love with them. They are no manufactured any longer but can be found at used car dealers or purchased from previous owners.

No matter what you are looking for Volkswagen Vans has designed a van that can fit the needs of your family. Compare the models side by side. New or used you will not be disappointed by either vehicle.

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