The classic All-American hippy van might soon see its reemergence as a modern electric vehicle, and many enthusiasts are excited beyond belief. Nothing brings back memories of the freedom of the 60’s and 70’s than the sight of long-haired happy people in a Volkswagen camper van. At a recent auto show in New York, VW board member Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser let the cat out of the bag and mentioned that the iconic car company is in fact working on the production of a modernized electric version. And it could be rad.
The history of the VW Camper Van is its own saga, but since mid last century the van has been extremely popular with Americans, and when associated with the hippy values of its most iconic days, seeing the van re-emerge as an eco-friendly vehicle sends the right message about the direction personal transportation should take.
“The first VW camper was produced in 1950, and in the ’70s, production for the iconic bus was outsourced to Brazil due to a number of changing German safety regulations. In 2013, the assembly-line was halted all together because the vehicles failed to meet a 2014 modification to Brazilian safety standards, including the requirements of ABS and multiple airbags.” [Source]
Would you drive a contemporary, electric version of the classic VW camper van?
The Microbus camper is set to be revealed as a prototype in next year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
“The zero local emission driveline, which relies on the Volkswagen Group’s latest lithium-ion battery technology as used by the Audi R8 E-Tron and upcoming Audi E-Tron Quattro concept, is claimed to provide a range of between 400 and 500km (250-310 miles) depending on the driving conditions. It is planned to be offered alongside more conventional turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel powerplants on the production Microbus, which senior Wolfsburg sources describe as being smaller than the latest Multivan.” [Source]
This project is still in its prototype phase, but it’s a great concept for a modern economical, ecological, and versatile vehicle. relaunching the compact bus would be a good deal of fun for VW enthusiasts and those looking for a great electric vehicle.
“Neusser told Autocar that the design of the original VW van was “so iconic” that any attempt at a new model would have to have three “very important” design cues: “First the wide, solid, D-Pillar, second the boxy design of the centre section and, thirdly, the front end must have a very short overhang. The distance from the A-pillar to the front end must be very short.” [Source]
Read more articles from Sofia Adamson.
Source: The Mind Unleashed
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