Volkswagen Microbus/Bulli Concept Vehicles - Wikipedia

Motor vehicle

Microbus
Microbus (2001) at IAA 2001
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Body and chassis
Body style	3 and 4 door minivan
Related	Volkswagen Transporter (T5)
Dimensions
Length	5 m (15.5 ft)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor	Volkswagen Type 2 Volkswagen Transporter (T4)
Successor	Volkswagen Bulli

The Volkswagen Microbus/Bulli concept vehicles are a series of concept cars that are styled to recall the original Volkswagen Microbus built by Volkswagen AG. The first of these was the Volkswagen Microbus Concept Car (also known as the New Microbus and Microbus Concept), first presented at the 2001 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Later concepts included the Bulli (2011), BUDD-e (2016), and ID BUZZ (2017), all battery electric vehicle concepts, and the ID BUZZ has now gone into production after its launch in 2022.

Design

[edit]

The new Microbus Concept was completely modern compared to the Type 2, featuring a 7-inch screen in the center console and a second ceiling-located 7-inch screen that allowed the driver to see behind the vehicle.[2] Passengers had 8-inch screens mounted in the seatbacks for video entertainment.[3] The Microbus Concept was approximately the same size as the contemporary Volkswagen Eurovan, and was powered by a newly developed 3.2L V-6 engine with stated output of 172 kW (231 hp) and 320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft).[1]

Styling of the Microbus Concept was handled by Volkswagen's California Design Studio in Simi Valley.[4]

History

[edit]

The Microbus Concept debuted at the 2001 NAIAS in Detroit.[5] In June 2002 Volkswagen announced the Microbus Concept, using the platform of the forthcoming T5 light van, was slated for production commencing during 2003 at the company's Hannover plant, ramping up to 80,000 units annually by 2005.[6] The launch was deferred, however, and the project was canceled in spring 2004.[7]

In 2005, VW instead announced that Chrysler would build minivans for Volkswagen in the United States, while in Europe the VW Transporter Multivan would fill the niche previously intended for the reborn Microbus. The Chrysler built Volkswagen Routan was released to the North American market in September 2008. Unrelated to the new Microbus, the Routan is a seven-seat minivan and is a rebadged variant of the Chrysler RT platform, fifth-generation Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.[8][9]

Battery electric successors

[edit]

Bulli (2011)

[edit] Motor vehicle

Bulli
Bulli at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Body and chassis
Body style	minivan
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,590 mm (102 in)[10]
Length	3,960 mm (156 in)[11][12]
Width	1,740 mm (68.4 in)[12]
Height	1,680 mm (66 in)[12]
Chronology
Predecessor	Volkswagen Microbus concept
Successor	Volkswagen BUDD-e

In September 2008, Autoblog reported that the Microbus Concept might actually yet be produced,[13] and at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen unveiled a second, smaller concept van (also reminiscent of the first generation Transporter) called the Bulli.[14] In the event, the Bulli also was not actually produced as envisioned in 2011.

The Bulli concept was powered by a 85 kW (114 hp) motor that developed 270 N⋅m (199 lb⋅ft) of torque, drawing from a 40 kWh (140 MJ) battery for up to 186 mi (299 km) of range. Rear seats may be folded, expanding cargo room from 370 to 1,590 L (13 to 56 ft3). The interior featured two rows of bench seats and could accommodate six people; dimensions were similar to the earlier Space Up! concept car.[10][11]

BUDD-e (2016)

[edit] Motor vehicle

BUDD-e
BUDD-e
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Body and chassis
Body style	minivan
Platform	VW MEB
Dimensions
Length	4,600 mm (181 in)[15]
Chronology
Predecessor	Volkswagen Bulli
Successor	Volkswagen I.D. Buzz

Main article: Volkswagen BUDD-e

Volkswagen announced that it was developing an all-electric platform in October 2015, as part of its response to the diesel emissions scandal. The platform was eventually named the MEB platform. The BUDD-e was revealed on January 5, 2016, at the Consumer Electronics Show, as the first concept based on the forthcoming MEB platform. That was the day after the United States Department of Justice filed suit against Volkswagen AG for its role in the diesel emissions scandal.[15][16]

Like the earlier Bulli concept of 2011, the BUDD-e used two rows of seating. The 101 kWh (360 MJ) battery in the BUDD-e gave it an estimated range of 233 mi (375 km).[15] The MEB-based BUDD-e used two motors, one each on the front and rear axle for a total mechanical output power of 225 kW (302 hp). It was also fitted with photovoltaic panels in the roof.[16]

ID. BUZZ (2017)

[edit] Motor vehicle

I.D. BUZZ
I.D. Buzz at the IAA 2017
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Also called	VW electric microbus
Production	2022–[17]
Designer	Einar Castillo
Body and chassis
Body style	3 and 4 door minivan
Platform	VW MEB[18]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,300 mm (130 in)[18][19]
Length	4,942 mm (195 in)[18][19]
Width	1,976 mm (78 in)[18][19]
Height	1,963 mm (77 in)[18][19]
Chronology
Predecessor	Volkswagen BUDD-e

Main article: Volkswagen ID. Buzz

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz debuted at the January 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.[19] It was also based on the MEB platform. Unlike the Bulli and BUDD-e, the ID. Buzz featured three rows of seating.

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Walton, Chris (July 1, 2001). "First Look: Volkswagen Microbus". Motor Trend. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
2. ^ "Concept Car Microbus" (Press release). Volkswagen AG Newsroom. February 27, 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
3. ^ Valdes-Dapena, Peter (May 20, 2003). "The Microbus is coming back!". CNN Money. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
4. ^ "VW closes Santa Monica design studio". Automotive News. August 29, 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
5. ^ Pund, Dan (January 7, 2001). "Volkswagen Microbus". Car and Driver. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
6. ^ "Neues vom Auto: VW baut den neuen Microbus is Hannover". Auto, Motor und Sport. 2002. Heft 14: Seite 12. 26 June 2002.
7. ^ Garrett, Jerry (November 29, 2004). "Love Beads Are Gone, but Microbus Beat Goes On". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
8. ^ "Chicago 2008: Volkswagen unveils the newish Routan minivan". Autoblog.com, Jeremy Korzeniewski, Feb 6 2008.
9. ^ "2009 Volkswagen Routan Minivan - - What's New for 2009". About.com, Jeff James. Archived from the original on 2008-01-08.
10. ^ a b Glockman, David (February 28, 2011). "Volkswagen Bulli Concept". Car and Driver. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
11. ^ a b Thomas, David (February 28, 2011). "Volkswagen Bulli Concept at 2011 Geneva Motor Show". cars.com. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
12. ^ a b c DeLorenzo, matt (March 2, 2011). "Volkswagen Bulli Concept". Road & Track. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
13. ^ "Rumormill: VW Microbus back on the table?". Autoblog.com, Alex Nunez, Sep 6 2008.
14. ^ "Geneva 2011: Volkswagen Bulli". topgear.com, Paul Horrell, March 1, 2011.
15. ^ a b c Tingwall, Eric (January 5, 2016). "Volkswagen BUDD-e Concept: Inspired by Microbus". Car and Driver. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
16. ^ a b Boruslawski, Piotr (January 6, 2016). "volkswagen launches electric microbus BUDD-e at CES 2016". designboom. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
17. ^ Stevens, Tim (19 August 2017). "VW's adorable I.D. Buzz hits dealerships in 2022, but we drove it today". Roadshow. CNET.com. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
18. ^ a b c d e "2017 Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ Concept". ConceptCarz.com. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
19. ^ a b c d e "NAIAS 2017 in Detroit: Volkswagen presents the ID. BUZZ" (Press release). Volkswagen Group Newsroom. January 9, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volkswagen Microbus. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volkswagen Bulli. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volkswagen I.D. Buzz.

• Volkswagen Microbus :: Concept Car Database
• Article in the autochannel.com news
• 4 Volkswagen Microbus Concepts From the Past and Present - Motor Trend
• Automotive.com, First Look: Volkswagen Microbus, 2007
• Concept Cars (UK), Concept Car Database, Volkswagen Microbus

v t e Volkswagen passenger cars
A marque of the Volkswagen GroupSee also: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Currentvehicles	Cars Arteon/CC Bora Golf ID.3 ID.7 ID. UNYX 07 Jetta/Sagitar/Vento Lamando Lavida Magotan Passat Passat Pro Polo Sagitar Virtus / Polo Sedan / Lavida XR SUVs/crossovers Atlas/Teramont ID.4 ID.5 ID.6 ID. ERA 9X ID. UNYX 06 ID. UNYX 08 T-Cross / Tacqua / Tharu XR / Taigun T-Roc Taigo/Nivus Talagon Taos/Tharu Tavendor Tayron Tera Teramont Pro Tiguan Touareg MPVs ID. Buzz Touran Viloran
Discontinuedvehicles	Aircooled 181 411/412 (Type 4) 1500/1600 (Type 3) Beetle (Type 1) Brasília Country Buggy/Sakbayan Gacel Hebmüller Cabriolet Karmann Ghia Kommandeurswagen Kübelwagen Schwimmwagen Senda SP1/SP2 Type 18A Type 147 (Fridolin) VW-Porsche 914 Watercooled Ameo Apollo Atlantic Beetle C-Trek Cabrio Cabriolet Carat Caribe Citi Golf (China) Citi Golf (South Africa) Clásico Corrado Corsar Dasher Derby Eos Fox Gol Golf Plus Golf Sportsvan Iltis K70 Logus Lupo New Beetle Parati Passat Lingyu Passat (North America) Phaeton Phideon Pointer Polo Playa Polo (Russia) Quantum Rabbit Routan Santana Scirocco Sharan SpaceCross Suran/SpaceFox Taro Up Vento/Polo Sedan Voyage/Gol Sedan XL1
Conceptvehicles	1-Litre/L1/XL1 Concept Alltrack Concept ARVW Auto 2000 Bio Runner BUDD-e Bulli Concept C Coupe GTE Chico Concept A Concept BlueSport Concept D Concept R CrossBlue Concept Cross Coupe GTE concept EcoRacer EDAG Biwak (New Beetle estate) GTI Roadster/Supersport Vision Gran Turismo GX3 ID.2all I.D. Buggy I.D. Buzz I.D. Crozz I.D. R I.D. Roomzz I.D. Space Vizzion ID. Vizzion ID. Life ID. Aero ID.Next Iroc Magellan Microbus Concept Milano Taxi New Beetle Ragster New Compact Coupé Phaeton D2 Concept SMV Concept Stanley T-Cross Breeze Concept T-Roc Concept T-Prime Concept GTE Taigun Concept Tarok Concept Touran HyMotion W12 Coupe/Roadster (Nardò) XL Sport Concept e-Beetle Concept
Racing cars	Polo R WRC I.D. R Formula Vee EMPI Imp Baja Bug Meyers Manx Race Touareg
Engines	Petrol engines Discontinued petrol engines G40 / G60 VR6 engine Diesel engines Discontinued diesel engines North American engines Air-cooled engine Wasserboxer
Factories	Autoeuropa Bratislava Chattanooga Poznań Transparent Factory Westmoreland Wolfsburg Zwickau
Related	List of passenger cars Emissions scandal 4Motion Advertising AutoMuseum Volkswagen BlueMotion Ehra-Lessien Deutsche Arbeitsfront G-Lader Herbie Platforms Volkswagen R Westfalia Camper
Category

v t e Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
A marque of the Volkswagen GroupSee Also: Volkswagen Passenger Cars
Current models	Amarok Caddy Crafter ID. Buzz Cargo Saveiro Transporter/Caravelle (T7) Multivan (T7)
Discontinued models	Aircooled Kleinlieferwagen (Fridolin) EA489 Basistransporter (Hormiga) Type 2 (T1) Transporter / Bus / Splitscreen Type 2 (T3): Transporter / Caravelle / Vanagon / T25 Watercooled Type 2 (T3): Transporter/Caravelle/Vanagon/T25 T4: Transporter/Multivan/Caravelle/Eurovan T5: Transporter/Multivan/Eurovan/Kombi/Caravelle T6: Transporter/Caravelle/California Taro L80 LT
Concept Vehicles	Microbus Concept Search & Rescue Pickup Concept
Campervans	Westfalia Camper
See Also	list of Volkswagen Group factories list of Volkswagen Group platforms list of Volkswagen Group petrol engines list of Volkswagen Group diesel engines discontinued petrol engines discontinued diesel engines North American engines 4motion Transporter (range) Volkswagen Trucks and Buses