If we had a penny for every time we imagined taking a VW Camper Van on a road-trip, we’d probably have enough to pay for our gas the whole way. It’s a dream that has always been met with the unfortunate truth of a VW Camper Van’s age. They’re old, and finding one in acceptable condition for a road trip is difficult and expensive. But today, we’ve discovered that our dream of surfing road trips may very well be alive.
The rumor of a new microbus has been floating around since the 2015 International Auto Show in Detroit when VW Development Boss, Dr. Hans-Jakob Neusser spilled the Volkswagen camper van beans. He stated that engineers at VW were working on a fully electric camper van, which is sure to mimic the electric “Bulli” microbus concept (pictured below) showcased in 2011 and 2012.
You may be thinking: “That Bulli doesn’t look anything like our beloved VW camper van!” And we agree. But before we make for our pitchforks and torches, it’s important to note that Volkswagen’s team is taking the design of this icon very seriously. Here’s a quote from Neusser describing the overall direction of the VW camper van.
“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,” he said back in January. “The distance from the A-pillar to the front end must be very short.”
That’s gibberish to us, but we trust that when Neusser says they’re focusing on the classic design, he means it. Plus, we’re excited to see a more sustainable and eco-friendly camper van.
The first concept of the new VW camper van is said to be planned for the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in January. That means there’s only three months standing between us and our first glimpse of this reanimated legend. Once the concept is released we’ll have more information to share and hopefully a more specific production time for 2017. Until then, we can only wait patiently with our thoughts.
We’re hoping the new camper van offers a balance of comfort, safety, thoughtful utility, and contemporary groove. We think Volkswagen can pull this off splendidly, as long as they stay true to the classic design and remember what we want: spontaneous road trips, star watching from the roof, and enough cargo space for a few good friends.
Come by Leith Volkswagen of Cary today and see our incredible showroom packed with classic VW camper vans, Beetles, and even a truck. You can also give us a call if you have any questions about the VW bus, or tell us on Facebook and Twitter what you want to see in the new VW Camper Van. We’d love to hear your ideas and feedback.
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