god the constant repetition of 'so we had an idea' does my head in! How many times do they say it? constantly like hey I'm cool and floaty but really sounding like I'm DESPERATE to sound cool and nonchalant. Didn't work. It also gives the impression its going to deliver more by saying that its a social family space etc when there is no room for such entertainment.
This still baffles me. VW was worried about price point. I wonder if they've seen the cost of a Toyota Sienna today. This thing would have been exponentially better than a Toyota. Too bad it turned into a Chrysler. Looking at the design now, it's starting to feel a little dated. But I think it would still be cool to drive.
You know, Volkswagen used to call the bus a station wagon. They used to advertise how much better their station wagon is compared to offerings from other manufacturers. They passed up the chance to produce this thing, and ironically, they now produce several models of "traditional" station wagons.
why is it so ugly? no way I would buy that thing... not to mention this new van is going to be like 30 some grand... (not so much for the people any more VW) I would much rather have an old type 2.
minivans are not vans. Minivans are big "station wagons". The amount of room and efficiency of space in the VW MICROBUS vs a minivan or worse yet...SUV...would make this sell for like crazy. The average vehicle price at auotshow was easily $35-45,000. right in the ball park.
Is that what happened??? I just got back from chicago autoshow. VW was just plain blah. I asked about the Microbus. Had no idea...there sat the "minivan" blah..loks like a chrysler. What doya know...it is. I jst wrote them a letter. BUT toyota had a concept van - looked like the microbus!!
Money. The costs to tool a factory, build units, distribute, market and sell -- balanced against potential worldwide sales figures -- just didn't add up.
Hey thanks for posting this video. Great work. I loved all the jib shots of the bus. So, where do you think all the concept vehicles went after you finished shooting with them? Any driving around California somewhere? Or did VW confiscate them and take them home to Germany? What a drag- I really feel even at the 35k price point this thing would have sold bigtime. It should have had the chance to be the second retro product success for VW.
Thanks for the kind words. Georgio Scali gets credit for the jib arm camera work. The vehicle you see is actually two. The exterior is a shell with no engine, shot in LA in early November of 2000. The interior was part of a second, higher finish-detail shell (still no engine) used for the auto show. We shot the interiors in Wolfsburg between Christmas 2000 and New Years, 10 days prior to the vehicle and film premiering in Detroit. I have no idea where those shells went after the 2001 auto shows.
I think it would have looked more retro had the headlights been round. The headlights are unattractive to me. (look too modern)
MrRobbyrocket 8 months ago
I hope they make it ...
carnage2211 1 year ago
Fugly!!
mannhorn34 1 year ago
god the constant repetition of 'so we had an idea' does my head in! How many times do they say it? constantly like hey I'm cool and floaty but really sounding like I'm DESPERATE to sound cool and nonchalant. Didn't work. It also gives the impression its going to deliver more by saying that its a social family space etc when there is no room for such entertainment.
global001 2 years ago
This still baffles me. VW was worried about price point. I wonder if they've seen the cost of a Toyota Sienna today. This thing would have been exponentially better than a Toyota. Too bad it turned into a Chrysler. Looking at the design now, it's starting to feel a little dated. But I think it would still be cool to drive.
randarmax 2 years ago
It would have looked better with round lights.
You know, Volkswagen used to call the bus a station wagon. They used to advertise how much better their station wagon is compared to offerings from other manufacturers. They passed up the chance to produce this thing, and ironically, they now produce several models of "traditional" station wagons.
Makes me sick.
Segasaturn95 3 years ago
This is uglier than the old one :(
TheRealMetalsoul 3 years ago
man, i would love to own one.
itchyballzz 3 years ago 2
that will never sell in the states.
epete22 3 years ago
You're an idiot.
pcressma 3 years ago 3
why is it so ugly? no way I would buy that thing... not to mention this new van is going to be like 30 some grand... (not so much for the people any more VW) I would much rather have an old type 2.
funstuffguy04 4 years ago
minivans are not vans. Minivans are big "station wagons". The amount of room and efficiency of space in the VW MICROBUS vs a minivan or worse yet...SUV...would make this sell for like crazy. The average vehicle price at auotshow was easily $35-45,000. right in the ball park.
vanagon555 4 years ago
Is that what happened??? I just got back from chicago autoshow. VW was just plain blah. I asked about the Microbus. Had no idea...there sat the "minivan" blah..loks like a chrysler. What doya know...it is. I jst wrote them a letter. BUT toyota had a concept van - looked like the microbus!!
vanagon555 4 years ago
VW sold out its customer base when it abandoned this and contracted with Chrysler for a BORING minivan.
Hey stupid VW- if we wanted a Chrysler, we'd go to them and buy that crap.
VW won't reply to polite emails about why, when, so on.
VW is a sell-out.
timbome 4 years ago
Money. The costs to tool a factory, build units, distribute, market and sell -- balanced against potential worldwide sales figures -- just didn't add up.
tbrunelle 4 years ago
Hey thanks for posting this video. Great work. I loved all the jib shots of the bus. So, where do you think all the concept vehicles went after you finished shooting with them? Any driving around California somewhere? Or did VW confiscate them and take them home to Germany? What a drag- I really feel even at the 35k price point this thing would have sold bigtime. It should have had the chance to be the second retro product success for VW.
randarmax 4 years ago
Thanks for the kind words. Georgio Scali gets credit for the jib arm camera work. The vehicle you see is actually two. The exterior is a shell with no engine, shot in LA in early November of 2000. The interior was part of a second, higher finish-detail shell (still no engine) used for the auto show. We shot the interiors in Wolfsburg between Christmas 2000 and New Years, 10 days prior to the vehicle and film premiering in Detroit. I have no idea where those shells went after the 2001 auto shows.
tbrunelle 4 years ago
Why didn't VW build it?
bitchbastard777 4 years ago