All About Japan Autos

The iconic Volkswagen Microbus means tie-dye, hippies, granola – pretty much anything related to the 1960’s and ‘70s. If you’ve always wanted to turn on, drop out and head to San Francisco (be sure to wear some flowers in your hair), VW wants to help.

“Volkswagen unleashed a thunderbolt at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, debuting the electric Volkswagen Bulli Concept, a post-modern and eco-friendly take on the original Volkswagen Microbus,” writes Inside Line. “But American consumers who envision parking one in front of their beach house may be in for a wait.”

That’s because the VW Mincrobus is only a concept, which means it’s not slated for production. VW wants to gauge public interest before they invest millions in reviving the VW Microbus.

Although it’s a concept, there’s a decent amount of information available. In a press release, Volkswagen states that the Microbus is “a ‘zero emissions vehicle,’ because the concept is electrically powered. Zero emissions at the tailpipe. The Bulli’s electric motor outputs 85 kW of power and an impressive 199 lb.-ft of torque. As is usual with this type of drive, its maximum forces are generated from standstill. The silent motor is supplied with energy from a lithium-ion battery with a maximum storage capacity of 40 kWh. This electrifying combination enables driving ranges of up to 186.4 miles – a high value for an electric car. When the Bulli’s battery is charged at an ‘electric refuelling station’ specially designed for electric vehicles, the charging process takes less than one hour.”

As an electric vehicle, the Bulli may not be practical for most shoppers, especially since vans are typically used for city driving and road trips. The US doesn’t have an infrastructure that can support electric vehicles just yet. Plus, the Bulli isn’t large. “But at 157 inches long, this is one small, small van,” says Kicking Tires. “Mini’s new Countryman SUV is 161 inches long. A Scion xB is 167.3 inches long. That means when you recline all the seats to form a ‘large reclining surface’ or bed, there might not be room to stretch out. When the rear seats are completely stowed for maximum cargo room, the Bulli has 56 cubic feet of storage. The Countryman has just 41.” But again, this is a concept, so who knows how large the Bulli will be if it hits the market.

We’ll keep you posted as to whether VW resurrects Microbus.

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