GENEVA — Is Volkswagen trying to “Bulli” disgruntled fans of the brand into a rapprochement? Here, on the eve of press previews, it rather looks like it. Few concept vehicles from the last decade were more warmly received than
the 2001 Volkswagen Microbus concept, a vehicle that, for various reasons, VW decided not to place into production. This upset a vocal demographic in VW’s fan base, all but rabid for the retro-themed bus. But now, VW wants tokiss and make up.On Tuesday, the brand will introduce the Bulli, what it calls a refinement of the 2001 Microbus concept, which derives its name from what the Germans called the original 1950 Microbus. (Semimodern models are still being produced in Brazil and some other international markets.)fact, the Bulli’s profile sooner evokes a Scion xB or Kia Soul than it does its namesake. Gone are signature features like panoramic windows, seating for up to nine, sliding doors and a woefully gutless gas engine. Instead, the Bulli has four conventionally opening doors, six seats, an iPad-based infotainment system and an electric motor.
“It is spacious like it was in 1950,” according to Volkswagen press materials. “It has clean styling like never before.” But critics might ask what would be cleaner than the original styling, which suggested a two-slice Toastmaster on wheels?
The show car is principally powered by an 88-kW electric motor that produces 199 pound-feet of torque. The company asserts that when fully charged, the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery pack delivers “up to 186.4 miles on a single battery charge” and can be replenished in under an hour when plugged into a fast-charge socket. Small, range-extending gasoline and diesel engines are also part of the conceptual package, but specifications were not given for how much extra range these might provide.
In at least one crucial aspect, the Bulli does evoke the original Microbus: It’s not very quick. Top speed is 87 m.p.h., and 0 to 62 m.p.h. is 11.5 seconds — or more, if loaded down like the old VW buses traditionally were.
The Bulli, at 156 inches long, is nearly two feet shorter than those early versions and forgoes rear-wheel drive for front-wheel drive. Gone also are the signature oval single headlights, replaced by dual headlights and LEDs.
In essence, the Bulli appears to be almost everything the Microbus was not — except that Volkswagen asserts it is.
No timetable or price for a possible production model have been mentioned.
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