Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 15:06:50 -0500
Reply-To: Grant Braddish <braddish@MAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Grant Braddish <braddish@MAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Just called VW- Camper discontinued in U.S., Canada
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Car manufacturers are renowned for not releasing information about new vehicles (or even mods to existing lines) until their 'official' production. I couldn't even find out if the following year would feature a sunroof when I bought my Subaru in 1997!
There have been way too many articles, photos, inclinations regarding a 2005 release of the new Microbus for it to be false.
Didn't someone just see a prototype Microbus in the San Jose area? This sounds like more than 'still on the drawing board.' VW.com also features the full mock up of the van in it's 'concept car' section. You will note that the Beetle Dune and AAC are only artists renderings.
It doesn't surprise me that VW of NA is not prepared to discuss the new Microbus. They have too many T4 Eurovans to sell in the meantime. The specs on the Microbus are 75.2"w x 75"h x 185.5" L for those who are wondering about the platform. This does seem a little tight for the current configuration of the camper but keep in mind that Westfalia will not be providing the aftermarket conversion and the Detroit auto show featured a pop-top version of the van.
----- Original Message -----
From: Harald Rust <harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 12:31:34 -0700
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Just called VW- Camper discontinued in U.S., Canada
> From http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vw-camping/
> Shocking news. Just got through on the phone
> to VW of North America.
> This is what they said,
> VW of North America does NOT plan to continue
> selling full-size vans or camper vans
> in the U.S. and Canada after 2003.
> The new T5 VW van (which is available in Europe)
> will not be marketed in North America.
> There will be no more campers available after
> 2003 or current supplies of the EVC sell out.
> There are no plans to sell them at a
> future date either.
> On another note,
> About the so-called Microbus, it's a
> compact van, more like a mini-van type.
> VW might sell this vehicle someday in the
> future in North America, but it's still on the
> drawing board, time frame unknown.
> That's the official VW party line.
> Harald
>
>
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