08 Sep 08 13:35
Volkswagen Microbus
Volkswagen is seriously considering production of its new-age Microbus concept, according to reports this week.
The concept - a retro-style recreation of the classic Kombi - was first seen in 2001, but the project was shelved due to the weakness of the dollar in the US, its main target market.
A senior Volkswagen official told an Australian newspaper this week, however, that the company was looking into building the Microbus at its new US factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The bus would thus share its underpinnings with Volkswagen's upcoming new US-market saloon (a large Camry-style saloon bigger than the current Passat, but not as expensive as the Phaeton) and not the Transporter/Multivan/Caravelle vans as originally proposed.
The Sydney Morning Herald quotes the unnamed VW official as saying: 'We're looking at ways to produce the Microbus that will make it competitive in North America. At the moment there is no firm decision but, with the exchange rate the way it is, there is no way we could entertain building it in Europe.'
