Volkswagen Will Present The Microbus Camper At CES, Report Says

For some reason, Volkswagen didn’t launch the Microbus when the retro trend was still in full swing, but better late than never, right?

Back in the day, when automakers manufactured modern fresh-reincarnations of classic legends (new Mini, New Beetle), Volkswagen teased the hippie 2.0 generation with the Microbus Concept, at the 2001 Detroit auto show.

The MPV was sticking to the oldie-fad, jumpstarted by the “trendy-lifestyle” New Beetle and its immense success. In fact, the retro craze was so intense that everybody knew the Microbus Concept would eventually make its way into production and be part of the movement.

So, here we are, 14 years later with Volkswagen still thinking whether they should do it, or not. A little late there, bud. In Volkswagen’s defense, the German car maker always had a direct successor to the T1/T2 Microbus, called the Transporter, or Multivan, or Caravelle, or whatever. So, bringing another life style-oriented, youth-appealing, “van-thing” on the market was – maybe – a little risky.

But nowadays, when apparently the plethora of body-styles to choose from still doesn’t satisfy the average consumer, Volkswagen has a chance with the Microbus. That’s why, according to Autocar magazine, the Germans plan to reveal an updated variant of their Microbus camper van concept in January, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Described as a preview to the actual road-going variant planned to be produced at Volkswagen’s Puebla factory in Mexico, the updated concept will also feature a newly-developed electric drive system, which may be able to offer a range between 400 and 500km (250-310 miles).

Of course, other conventional powertrains will reportedly be available, such as a selection of turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.