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Volkswagen releases the Bulli van concept vehicle
The 81st Gevena International Motor Show kicks off this week, and motorheads are already buzzing about big news from Volkswagen. The New York Times Wheels blog is reporting that VW will introduce the Volkswagen Bulli concept car today. The Bulli concept derives its name from the original1950 Microbus of the same name, and was first seen by car enthusiasts in 2001. For various reasons, production of the new Bulli was put on hold, but now VW fans everywhere have reason to celebrate. Volkswagen says the new concept is more compact, affordable, and is equipped with more sustainable technologies.
The 21st century redesign is dramatically different from its 1950s predecessor. The classic panoramic windows, seating for nine, sliding doors and wimpy engine have been replaced by four conventional doors, an electric motor, and a panoramic sunroof. The Bulli still has a single bench seat in the front, with space for three in the rear.
A Volkswagen press release says the "is spacious like it was in 1950," but now "it has clean styling like never before."
This shorter, wider re-imagining of the hippie van also features an iPad-based "infotainment system." A removable iPad in the center console will control such functions as Bluetooth hands-free telephone and a navigation system, as well as the climate control system.
You can see more pictures of the Volkswagen Bulli here, and don't miss Life magazine's photo gallery of classic VW buses.
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The little Ford Transport is about the only thing that is relatively fuel efficient and can be easily converted to a camper. I'm really disappointed. Last trip to Yosemite I felt like I was in Cuba... dozens of old VW campers with owners working hard to keep them alive. Give us back our magic bus!
After owning a 68 bus, a '86 vanagon, a '95 Eurovan and a '99 Eurovan, I bought a '07 Honda Odyssey because VW didn't have a decent van and this was as close as I could get without buying a dodge(routan). However, I cannot fit a 4x8 plywood board in it like I could with my VW even though the Honda is longer and wider on the outside.
Also, the '99 Eurovan with a V6 engine got 17 mpg, the Honda only gets 18mpg and is 8 years newer.
What I really want is a full size van, T5? Diesel?
I was really excited to look it up today when I heard it was coming out. When I was really young in the 50's my parents bought the first VW van in Seattle. It was red & black 1955 or56 (?) bus with the sky windows and a rag top. We were featured in a article in the Seattle Times titled the Germans are coming. My parents continued to buy vw's over the years both bugs and vans. I learned to drive in a 1950's bug. When I got married our first and second new cars were a bug 1969 and then a van 1972 when we started our family. We up-graded to a 1984 van. Can't believe you are calling this a van. Where's the room? We raised 5 children in our van as did my parents. This isn't a van it's a ????
I don't like it and neither does my husband. We give it a big thumbs down :(
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