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Automobile Magazine July 1998 issue p. 16 Microbus Reborn Now that the phenomenal reception accorded the New Beetle has turned Volkswagen management on to the idea of mining the company's heritage, we may see an update of the next-most-famous VW, the Microbus. Just as the old VW bus was based on the Beetle, the new Microbus would be built off the platform of the New Beetle ... or more precisely, that of the upcoming Golf MPV. The project is known internally as Samba II. Why Samba? Because in Europe, VW's luxury version of the Microbus was badged Samba. The Samba treatment included two-tone paint, four skylights along the sides of the roof, and additional chrome inside and out. Because it is based on the Golf MPV, the Samba II would be significantly smaller than its predecssor. And while the flat nose of the original couldn't be reproduced on a front-engine vehicle, early attempts suggest it is possible to integrate those other styling elements onto a front-engine design. For the sake of parts commonality with the Golf MPV, the new high-roof five-seater would feature front-hinged doors and a large tailgage. With any luck, the public will get a chance to judge for itself how successful VW stylists have been at the 1999 Detroit auto show, when it's rumored that a styling exercise will be shown. -- Georg Kacher <Unca Joel's comments: they have a picture of about a 1966 or so 23-window sunroof bus, and below it, a drawing of the New Bus: to me, it looks like a cross between an Isetta and that odd little Messerschmidt car, right after the war. with ONE large windshield wiper. and round mirrors. four doors on the sides. only the deep V in the front, the large VW emblem on the front, and the headlights make it look anything like a bus. :( BIG wheels, in comparison to its overall size ... it looks like a Golf station wagon. |
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