Volkswagen might be bringing back the iconic Microbus. The 2001 Microbus concept was killed off in 2005 but a VW official told reporters recently that they were, "looking at ways to produce the Microbus that will make it competitive in North America."
While VW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder decided that it wasn't worth the time, his replacement Martin Winterkorn thinks otherwise. The 2001 Microbus concept was based on the T5 commercial van and was scheduled for production in Hanover.
The Original Microbus, or Kombi as other territories know it, is still made in Brazil and powered by a 1.4-liter water-cooled engine. Still loved by peace loving people who commonly display their hand with a V sign facing forwards (not backwards mind you), a modernized Microbus could be a hit the same way the BMW Mini and Fiat 500 were.
If the Microbus does in fact make it into production, it will most likely be built at the new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is set to build a four-door sedan in 2011 for the North American market. According to VW spokeswoman Jill Bratina, the company has been considering production of a second model at the plant.
+ Squab: VW Microbus: resurrected?