Remember 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. 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 petrol 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 too.
