New Camper (microbus concept)

[foodeater]

I just came across this article. It seems that once again VW is considering building the Microbus concept from a few years ago. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/los-angele...z15eAHBGjz
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'84 westy Tiico-daily driver
'64 Studebaker Commander-crushed by a tree
on 6/10/08
'82 Caddy diesel-sold
'87 Vanagon Syncro-RIP
'81 diesel rabbit-sold
'82 Vanagon auto-RIP

[Zero419]

"The key question is 'what sort of car should we build?' 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."


Oy vey.
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1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[Classicvibe]

Not that I think this is going to happen anytime soon, but this would crush the Syncro value, as VW would not doubt release a 4motion model. And let's face it, there is not a lot beyond functionality going for the Vanagon...it would be easy to dethrone it, with a simple, solid vehicle release.

Hmm, I have a great inside source at VW Corporate. I will have to get a little more out of him on this. He is a little out of the loop though, or at least that's what he wants me to think. He couldn't/wouldn't give me any info on the Porsche 4 banger people are talking about either.

He did confirm however that trying to get a VW 4motion Weekender camper from Germany was the dumbest idea in history. Guess I'll stick with my ridiculously expensive, 25 year old Syncro!
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Peace, Johnny

...on a mission
The destination is just an excuse.

My van is going to kick ass for the next Solstice...I'm just sayin'

1986-n-a-half Pop-top Westfalia Wolfsburg Edition Weekender Syncro Kombi

[Wildthings]

[Classicvibe]

Yeah, it is interesting to consider what upgrades VW would have to implement to win the Vanagon owners over. We are unfortunately not in their sites my friend. A bunch of DIY hackers who are tough to sell on traditional marketing and jibber jabber. We won't fall for the banana in the tail pipe, not this group.

My friend (another Vanagon owner) who is here on the Samba works for VW, and mentioned to me that people are totally willing to buy the VW minivan, knowing that it is an ugly Dodge, just because they are so desperate to have some ounce of hip in their life. "They want the beard and the corduroys" as he put it (we were both in full facial garb and cords of course). Interesting, and it shows how ripe the market is for any decent vehicle release.

With that said, it seems pretty easy to win me over. All the things we are trying to do to our vans could be packaged to me and I would be fine. Better/more efficient engine, AWD that doesn't fail every few years, some aerodynamics (w/o looking soccer mom), some safety features like window curtains and dash bags. I may consider some anti lock brakes, but I think most of that stuff is designed for absent/untrained drivers (just opinion!). Better sound/thermal insulation all around. I love the rear engine rear drive, but I think the 2wd folks would pull for at least a FWD. I must admit, I have highway tires on my van, and that first snow storm yesterday had me stuck all over the place (still working on my straight shaft/de-coupler install). I would love to be able to switch from AWD to locked up. That would be huuuuuuuge. Anyway, this would be a very expensive rig, but no doubt the market is there.
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Peace, Johnny

...on a mission
The destination is just an excuse.

My van is going to kick ass for the next Solstice...I'm just sayin'

1986-n-a-half Pop-top Westfalia Wolfsburg Edition Weekender Syncro Kombi

[Zeitgeist 13]

Perhaps they could lengthen the wheelbase/track of the Touareg chassis, and even swap ends with the drivetrain as a means of creating a T3 Syncro v.2.0. It could be built in the new Chattanooga plant

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_302.PDF
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--Casey
'89 Bluestar
"Omnia Extares"

[Volksaholic]

[joetiger]

Whatever they do, they need to get off of their butts and do it. I've always thought that they really missed out on the Baby Boomer segment by not doing the 2001 Microbus concept.

So then they insult us with the Routan. My wife saw an article on it before it came out and was excited about the possibility of being able to get into a brand-new Volkswagen Van. Once I figured out that it was a Chrysler, we shot the idea down and bought her a Highlander (an inexpensive, hassle-free, bulletproof, simple, effective, AWD family hauler, by the way).

We've often complained that we love VW, but they don't have anything that a family with two little kids and a mortgage could be excited about or interested in. And that's a shame.
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Joe T.
'85 Wolfsburg Westfalia Subie 2.2 "Tatanka"
"Old days come and go too soon
Old friends, heroes, lifetimes
Don't let a single memory fade away" --JB

[73thingsale]

So I read in one of these forums some time ago that "VW will never ever make another rear engine RWD" van. I suppose it's niave to ask why? But why not at least work on that Atacama Concept. I mean really, the microbus concept had huge acceptance, so they killed it. Then the atacama had a great deal of chatter, killed that too. Is it the vision of VW to just forget about the formula that created the cult status for their utilitarian vehicles? If anyone that works for VW ever spent a few hours researching the internet, I'm pretty sure they'd find pressure points for the demographic represented here and at other sites. Yes it's a niche market, small by comparison to, say the Jeep Wrangler crowd. Having read that something like 1,500 syncros made it to the US, and maybe 5,000 Vanagons total made it here...the market for the few that remain is pretty solid. If I look within 150 miles of me on autotrader for a wrangelr, I get about 250 hits. A vanagon in that same radius gets 1 or 2. I have a hard time thinking that VW couldn't make a more updated version of the vanagon for less than $25k to start. People are paying over $30k for a four-door wrangler, and over $50k for a camping Sprinter. Blows my mind that they would piss away a relationship with Westfalia for a deal with Chrysler. Nice move corporate decision-makers.

[foodeater]

[chimneyfish]

The 2001 concept:



Then as you guys above found this:



I just now found this article from 2 days ago, about a Brazilian designer called Eduardo Oliveira and his designs for a rear engined 2015 Microbus concept (I'm assuming this is not an official VW design?):

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2015-vw-transporter-is-a-thing-of-beauty-27797.html

Whole gallery of different concepts at the bottom of the web page, here's two:





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1976 Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 Camper (Danbury)

[CREGAN]

[DAIZEE]

Read an article last week by VW of America. They said that the only reason they cancelled the development was due to costs, not due to demand. It also said that they are activiley developing it now in California and will be incorporating traditional concept. It was a pretty positive article, no promises but did say are working with experienced Vanagon people. So who knows but I'm sure it'll be very $$$$$$$$.
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83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 97 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (for sale)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

Mental Health issues affect us all. Ignorance is not bliss. It's up to each of us to educate ourselves.

[chimneyfish]

I just now found the designers blog:

http://irmaododecio.blogspot.com/2010/12/kombi-para-todos.html#more
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1976 Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 Camper (Danbury)

[speedtek]

[westyventures]

Now we're talking! If VW built something like this, TDI in the rear, I'd probably buy one - and I vowed to never buy another new car! This designer deserves an award, or at the very least a seat on the Microbus design team.
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Karl Mullendore
www.westyventures.com
www.propexusa.com
Propex Heatsource US-HQ and Truckfridge sales and installation.
(Traveling in the PNW June/July!)

[DAIZEE]

some of the old round buses had 'eye brows' and they looked good! Just looked at blog. Interesting. I like a few of them, funny fronts in keeping with tradition.
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83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 97 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (for sale)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

Mental Health issues affect us all. Ignorance is not bliss. It's up to each of us to educate ourselves.

[Dennis Perusse]

Hello,


This is an interesting concept but VW has to do something they haven't been able to do in 30 years, and that is to simplify things. You have to love the Germans for one thing and that is the elegance of being overcomplicated. The original air-cooled cars were rugged, simple to work on, required few tools, and when something broke you had a dealership very close to you to get a well made part. Try that now and people will look at you funny.

If any of these designs come into fruition then VW has to simplify everything and make a car that isn't going to fall apart if you sneeze the wrong way, plus make it so that you can work on it at home for the basic stuff. Quality Control is essential for the American market as too many of our vehicles don't pass that test at all. The 2001 New Beetle that my mother and I jointly own runs fast, is decent on gas, and handles like a dream.

The problem is is that everything electrical is awful and some of the mechanical stuff is horrid too. That dang check engine light for the fuel issues will drive you crazy. Now the idea of a microbus would be wonderful. Vw had this market sown up for years and then Chrysler came in and beat them to the punch. Now VW and Chrysler have the same design and no one is better off for it.

I would definitely love to have a new bus made. Heck it would be the first car I would buy new. Heck my preference would be to have the Brazil Bay window brought into this country if this new idea doesn't pan out as it is still being made. It's just too bad that with all of the regulations between Europe and the States so different in certain areas the cost of having things work in both areas becomes too high.

Still...a person can dream...

Dennis

[rockfish]

The idea of simplifying the motor and its associated workings so that you can mechanic yourself is long gone. This is not a VW issue - it's the way it is for all modern cars. Computer controllers to start with...

With all of the regulations on mileage, emissions - and customers demand performance, reliability and endurance - the computer controlled engine is here to stay.
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89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

[danfromsyr]

ok the little sinka & doka are way cool


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VW Club of Central New York SPRING VW GTG
Upstate NY 2013 VWCCNY events
NY State VW Camping 2013 season events