Concept Car of the Week: Volkswagen Microbus (2001)

The turn of the millennium seemed to induce a feeling of nostalgia among car manufacturers and with it a plethora of heritage/retro designs, including the new Mini, new Ford Mustang and Nissan Z.

Following the runaway success of its New Beetle, which probably started the trend, VW asked itself whether it could enjoy the same success with a modern interpretation of the legendary T1 Microbus.

Designed at the surf-central design studio in Simi Valley, California, the Microbus Concept took ample inspiration from its distant ancestor, but was modernized in every way. Longer, larger and taller, the new concept appeared to have replaced weed with burgers.

However, the proportions work very well and the stance is almost sporty, with short overhangs and a wide track pushing the large 20-inch wheels in the corners. With clean surfaces, a rounded nose, a straight shoulder and constructed wheel arches, the overall design looks like a larger Audi A2.

The large VW logo is a simple but effective nod to the T1, while the long headlamps and rear lamps give a much more serious expression. To balance it, the air intake at the front connects to the headlights to create a big cheeky smile.

Far from feeling like a hippie tent, the interior is rather cold and clinical, with seats that look like dental chairs. The round volumes of the dashboard, on the other hand, are warm and simple, contrasting with the striking gear lever that articulates at the end of an ellipsoidal steel insert mounted under the dash.

The Microbus concept can carry up to six people, with two seats in the front row, two seats in the second row that could rotate 180 degrees and a third row bench with two individual, contoured seats. A rail system allows variable layout for both second and third row.

There are four large monitors in the backrest of the first and second row and a seven-inch 16:9 screen in the centre console, as well as two extendable displays between the second and third row. Rear view cameras are linked to yet another seven-inch screen replacing the interior mirror, bringing the number to an impressive eight screens for six passengers.

While the original T1 is rear-engined and rear-wheel drive, the new Microbus offers a more conventional front engine, front-wheel drive configuration using an off-the-shelf VW 3.2 V6.

The Microbus was designed with production in mind, but the project was delayed and then finally canceled in 2005. Instead the industrial T4 filled the role, with very similar dimensions, but without any soul.

Compared with the original T1, the Microbus Concept might have grown too much for its own good, looking less ‘Micro' and more ‘Bus'. Its sleek design was still very modern but leant more towards a high-tech vehicle of the future than a tough, huggable workhorse.

First seen 2001 North American International Auto Show
Length 4,722mm
Width 1,909mm
Height 1,904mm
Wheelbase 3,000mm
Engine 3.2L V6, 231bhp
Transmission FWD

Your author, Flavien Dachet, is a UK-based, French-born car designer. You may know him as the purveyor of KarzNshit, a photo blog that if isn't already in your bookmarks, certainly should be.

By Flavien Dachet