The MicroBus, reborn!
Geneva has been kicking out some great news. This time, it is VW's debut of the all-new Bulli, known as the MicroBus by us Yankees.
Born 60 years ago, the VW Microbus took a simple design and made it iconic, just like they did with the Beetle. To this day, people cherish their Microbuses world-wide, so it is exciting news that they are reviving it again (the Microbus saw a single-year rebirth in 2001) and this time they are doing it green. Europe gets it first. There is no release date posted yet for the states.
Though it will be available with a 1.0 liter or 1.4 liter 4-cylinder gas engine, the interesting news here is that it is also available as a EV with a 85 kw motor that produces a remarkable 199 lb-ft of torque. VW claims this allows the Bulli to hit 62 mph in 11.5 seconds and travel at a range of up to 186 miles on a single charge.
There are definite design cues taken from the Microbus, but this time around the Bulli features an edgier design and sharply-creased character lines. The boxy shape also lends to a sense of spaciousness within its compact dimensions. It is 66 inches tall, 68 inches wide and is 156 inches long. The design is further complimented by a modern take on a classic concept - a two-tone paint job.
Front and rear benches provide a comfortable ride for up to six passengers. Though boasting a retro design inside and out, the Bulli is truly state-of-the-art, one look at the Apple iPad mounted in the center console can tell you that. The iPad is designed to serve as a multi-functional touch-screen for vehicle controls. That's right - it integrates fully with the Bulli's controls, allowing for entertainment, navigation and hands-free, Blue-tooth connectivity.
VW has reintroduced the Microbus a total of 3 times - once with the 2001 concept, once with the Up! concept, and now with this. Road and Track suggests this is not a "sure thing", but the German sites we have visited are giving it a release date of 2014. We bet it is going to happen, and something we'd love to see on the South Florida streets.
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