VW is bringing back their hippie van as an EV in 2017
Interesting article http://interestingengineering.com/new-volkswagen-camper-van/
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Ok, so that's Cool.
I hate new cars, but I think I want one!
Article obviously written by some British journalist who doesn't know much about Volkswagen Transporters.
Kombis are not 'hippie vans' - that's a modern cliche. They were designed as 1-tonne commercial vehicles. In Australia between 1972 and 1976, VW
had 45% of the local market for 1-tonne vans and pickups, selling more Kombis in those years than Toyota sells Hiaces now. The more iconic Microbus
and Campmobile were very expensive low-selling models.
"For many years, these Volkswagen vans have only been found through websites and second-hand car dealeres, leaving enthusiasts wondering why the
production of this popular car ever stopped. The first VW vans began being produced back in the 1950, but due to a number of changes to the German
safety regulations the vehicle production was outsourced to Brazil in the 70’s." Wrong. Production of the T1 and T2 were not 'outsourced to
Brazil'. The T1 was replaced by the T2 in 1967 in Germany (1968 in Australia), and this in turn was replaced by the T3 in 1979 (Germany) and 1982
(Australia). Brazil began assembly of the T1 in the 1950s, as did Australia. We upgraded to the T2, but Brazil kept making the T1 until the 1970s -
when they made their own 'T1½' - a T1 shell with T2 nose. They made that until the 1990s. The T1 and T2 were replaced because they became obsolete,
and no longer met the market requirements, nor the safety, fuel economy and efficiency requirements of the time. The process continues - the current
T5 will be replaced by the T6 in only a month or two.
The vehicle shown in the photo above is the 2001 'Microbus' concept vehicle, designed as a possible US market vehicle in the same way as the
then-New Beetle. It was too costly to produce. And it had nothing to do with 'campers' - the Brits have a stupid habit of referring to all VW Kombis
(vans and Microbuses) as 'VW Campers'. They're not. Only the Campmobile model (it's proper name) is a 'Camper.'
The actual electric Transporter concept the article refers to is this model, the eT (elektro-Transporter) that appeared a few years ago. As you can
see, it looks nothing like the original T1.
https://emobility.volkswagen.de/int/en/private/technology/concept-car_eT.html
Gotta agree Phil. I've never been a hippy nor has anyone else I know that owns one.
A couple of american movies and every journalist equates VW buses to Hippie vans.
I'll kill my Missus before she gets to put flowers on ours!
Well maybe just maim a bit...
Plead whiningly until she gives in...
That ought to do it.