The New VW Microbus

Volkswagen has unveiled in a world premiere at the Detroit International Auto Show. The future bus of the future was designed in the Volkswagen design studio in California ; home of the Concept 1 (New Beetle) and likewise, the bus concept is orientated towards the American market.

The all new Microbus

The press coverage makes obvious links to the original microbus of 1950, and was successful worldwide, especially in the USA. E microbus started off the whole people carrier marque decades before other manufacturers really adopted it.

The five meter long Microbus is Volkswagen's design study for the US market and much like the Concept 1 of 1994, is a prototype to gauge public reaction. With the background of the legendary first generation of VW buses, the design of which as well-loved as that of the Beetle and the New Beetle, the designers say they didn't want to run the risk of merely copying the old bus style. The aim was to create another Volkswagen original, which was to pay homage to a great history in its own independent visionary way.

While press coverage gives the design a warm welcome, discussion amongst VW enthusiasts is mixed between a warm welcome and disappointment that the new design isn't closer to the original. In particular many dearly wanted to see the round headlights seen on the new Beetle, and simulated on the Lupo and new Polo. No decision has been made concerning putting the Microbus into series production.

VW has designed a bus that is a contemporary North American design that still contains hints of its ancestor. The very short body overhangs are reminiscent of the first VW bus. However, the Microbus is over 4.7 meters long, and both higher and wider than the original, in fact it is approximately equivalent in size to the 4th generation Transporter, so the concept may be built on the Eurovan platform.

How many would want to see the new design

At the back, the bus features flat rear lights horizontal as the design of the front headlights. Again, many enthusiasts bemoan the fact that they were not shaped like the original bus and placed vertically. The VW logo dominates the large tailgate, and many seem to like the bus's single lozenge shaped exhaust.

The concept features what VW call a "Biosphere two colour paint scheme - a darker Elm green in the lower half and the lighter Elm green pearl in the upper area ; a two tone idea borrows from the original.

Inside lights fitted into the roof light up the futuristic interior. The floor is made of a semi-transparent material with a geometric over a layer of aluminium. For the driver the bus has an analogue tachometer and digital additional information as well as the gear stick integrated into the instrument panel. The five speed tiptronic automatic can be shifted either fully automatically or manually. The Microbus has three rows of seats which are covered in leather in Cotton with Elm Olive trim. The middle centre seats can be turned through 180 degrees and the third row has been designed as a bench with two individual contoured seats. A rail system makes a multi-variable layout of the two rear rows possible.

There was never going to be a rear mounted flat floor in the new design, it has a front-mounted 3.2 litre V6 engine with 231 bhp. Bus generation and thus look to the future.

Swish Interior

However, like the bay window, the new microbus had slide sliding doors, but these open and close electronically at the push of a button. All passengers get integral seat belts and electrical seat adjustment. The bus can be transformed into a car cinema. With a 7" screen in 16:9 format in the centre console with four large monitors in the back rests of the first and second rows as well as two extendible displays between the second and third rows, every one (except the driver) can get a good view. It also has a backeye camera which provides a view behind the vehicle. The on board computer also warns the driver via spoken warnings when parking that they might be getting too close to an unwanted bump- which would just annoy me.

All in all, VW has surprised many by keeping its Concept bus so secret up until now, and disappointed many who don't like its divergence from the popular New Beetle aesthetic. But, remember ; this is a concept; I have no doubt it will make it into production, but like the Concept 1 to final New Beetle, expect a few changes along the way.

All Volkswagen Group communications and photos reproduced with permission of Volkswagen UK