Bulli For You: VW To Build Microvan

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

The first time VW showed a retro-inspired Van concept, they said they would build it but never did. Now, having shown a new, far smaller retro-inspired microvan [ gallery here], VW says they will not only build the thing, but thanks to their modular MQB platform, they’ll be able to build variations of it for markets around the world. Though VW’s development honcho Ulrich Hackenberg insists the microvan won’t be built at VW’s new plant in Chattanooga, TN, he does tell Autocar that it will be sold in the US and

aimed at the XB produced by Toyota’s youth brand, Scion.

Which means it will be built in Mexico, alongside the New Beetle. And come to think of it, the New Bulli and New Beetle seem to have quite a bit in common: both trade heavily on heritage-inspired looks while having little (if anything) to do with their actual inspirations. Which means the Baby Boomers will love it.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Verbal Verbal on Mar 10, 2011

    This is all well and good, but will it have faulty electricals?

    • Tuckaloe Tuckaloe on Mar 10, 2011

      It's a VW, of course it will have faulty electricals.

  • FleetofWheel FleetofWheel on Mar 10, 2011

    We know from Bertel's reporting that VW is looking for volume to unseat Toyota as #1. Going after the Scion xB indicates they see a lot more potential there than the doubters of Scion and the xB.

  • Theodore Dyck Theodore Dyck on Mar 10, 2011

    This is good news. With the Panthers being discontinued, the Bulli will be crucial for keeping passenger-car front bench seats alive.

  • Diseasel Diseasel on Mar 10, 2011

    You know, I kind of like it. Assuming that VW gets the proportions right and it it is more van-like and less Scion-y compact, I might be interested. Should it be available with a diesel engine, 4-Motion, and a manual transmission, well, then I'd really be interested.

    • See 1 previous
    • Diseasel Diseasel on Mar 11, 2011

      Brett, I totally agree with you... It's a shame that VW doesn't seem to make the ones we really want, eh? Oh, the name is pretty awful, although that seems to be Volkswagen tradition as of late (Tiguan, Touareg, Routan). At least the Jetta and Passat nameplates are still around. I looked up the specs, and according to the VW website it'll be 66 inches tall, which is Honda CR-V territory. Perhaps they'll see fit to throw 4-Motion in to compete with the small SUV segment and cash in on the AWD craze... hey, I can dream, right?

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