VW Camper is reborn

It is lovely, but...

Yes very cute indeed, but the size is rather pointless, those middle seats look tiny, so it's really just a funky, roomy four seater.

Much rather have a real 7 seater bus.

By darrenjs on 1 March, 2011, 12:20am

I hope it makes the showrooms

Only Volkswagen could do this I suppose. To produce such a vehicle there has to history and financial 'clout'.
VW are probably the only company who could make a van look -unlike a van.
If they can get the price right this will be a great success with the youngsters and will become an icon - just like the original. I must say - I have never owned a VW but I do highly respect the integrity of the company and the quality, variety and sheer originality of some of their products. I do hope this goes into production.

By Gregorius on 1 March, 2011, 2:37am

Hardly a Camper

It look great but it would need more versatility to be a true Camper reincarnation.
Wher are the fold away table, kitchen untits and cooker and fridge?
Good start though VW, just add the extras the original had and you will have a truely attractive proposition. At the moment it is just an MPV

By Carmad3 on 1 March, 2011, 5:46am

mmmm.... I don't like

Looks too much like a Japanese box car from these pics, too short and squat. I much preferred the 2001 Microbus concept. Unlikely to happen but I would like to see a picture of this the 2001 concept and the original concept side by side to get a better idea of scale but doubt my mind will be changed.

By mbisson on 1 March, 2011, 6:24am

Campervan?

Campervan? I don't think so. Surely the modern incarnation of the original microbus / campervan is the T5; this "Bulli" is nothing more than a 5 door people carrier - a concept at that.

Really, Autoexpress should stop over-egging.

By Niadra on 1 March, 2011, 6:42am

Twin tone fiat multipla?

Looks nothing more than a twin tone fiat multipla rival to me (albeit with the seats folded flat!)

I am not sure i would fancy an electric camper! sounds like a reciepe to be stranded

By JakeBtn on 1 March, 2011, 7:02am

Scale model?

Maybe this is a 3/4 scale model of a camper van, easier to take around the motor shows you see. Camper van it is not, should be renamed Cramper van!!

By asmithdesign on 1 March, 2011, 7:07am

Cop out.

Sorry boys!!!.....where has the spirit gone???..... take away the two-tone paint and the colour interior and its just a van with windows and seats.

Go back a couple of years to the earlier concepts you showed and build one of them - this thing is a watered down waste of time.

By wmtmarine on 1 March, 2011, 7:50am

No use to most people, except for a horny bachelors

By desertrat2 on 1 March, 2011, 8:50am

Errrrmmmmm?

Like it but...

Those seats don't look comfy. And the definition of a Bulli (Bully) is an undesirable who picks on others for no real reason. Surely VW should have looked into the name?

I'd have liked it better if there had been a spare tyre bolted to the front.

By craiglife on 1 March, 2011, 9:23am

Just what I need

I liked the Microbus so much that I have the Matchbox version on my desk, but I am more likely to buy the Bulli as all I need is a funky, roomy four seater with a really comfortable ride.

By CarsDefineUs on 1 March, 2011, 9:31am

Nice redo of the Suzuki APV

The similarities of this and the Suzuki APV are very strong. But I
know which one I would rather have :)
http://www.autos-news-trend.info/suzuki-apv.html

By chrisay3 on 1 March, 2011, 10:01am

No Way

This aint no camper, this is just a raised 5 seater.

By iozdil on 1 March, 2011, 10:18am

Not keen!

Sorry VW, the concept you first showed a few years ago was streets ahead of this. Nice big badge on the front just begging to be nicked by the local chavs.

By chrome500 on 1 March, 2011, 10:27am

V W Forget it

They have lost their way with the original concept, its not a camper van its another people carrier

Russell

By castlereel5000 on 1 March, 2011, 10:42am

No identity!

Looks far too american, and taking away the deliberately oversized VW badge would mean it just looks like something produced by Chevrolet / Dodge.

Plus, where an earth is the rock and roll bed going to go? :o)

I know we are never gonna get the sub £25k modern take on the original and iconic campervan that we crave, but this really is VW trying to cash in on a name that really deserves better than to be on a rebodied Golf!

www.vwvanforum.com

By vwvanforum on 1 March, 2011, 11:17am

What went wrong?

What happened to that beautiful showcar of a few years ago? Now that was a real eyeturner! This is a poor pastiche of the camper van - and looks like many other vans - when the two tone paint is stripped away. Go back to the drawing board VW......

By simon9350 on 1 March, 2011, 11:49am

Camper? Where are the gas rings and the basin?

As others have said, this is just a van with windows and seats. Campers need somewhere to cook and wash-up at the very least. That's before we think about sleeping arrangements.

Sorry VW, back to the drawing board. More "Emperors New Clothes" from the marketing dept. Do they think we really are as easily taken in as that?

By dav01wat on 1 March, 2011, 12:31pm

Hello backache

Take out some health insurance if you buy a Bulli. Those seats are a chiropractor's dream - of extra business coming his way soon.

By Tooyoo on 1 March, 2011, 1:25pm

No Way vw

what a complete waste of time this is. huge bonnet at front silly seat options neither fit nor honda made any real sales of thier cars with 2 rows of 3 seats.
FORGET IT VW go back to the drawing board.

By del55 on 1 March, 2011, 7:25pm

This would be great in the US IF it were gasoline. This would be ideal for those of us who owned a bus when we were younger.

By farout66 on 1 March, 2011, 9:01pm

Ferrari FF

Geneva 2011, Ferrari also officially launched FF supercar, it is the first 4 seats supercar of Ferrari and I like the style of this car. I've also read about it here:
http://www.carsfresh.net/2011/03/2011-geneva-motor-show-ferrrari-ff.html

By carsfresh on 2 March, 2011, 1:36am

RWD

should be rear-wheel drive and an engine should have "that" sound-

By hubabuba on 2 March, 2011, 7:47am

CAMPER? I DON'T THINK SO

Why is Autoexpress calling this a campervan? You could no more go live in this MPV than any other people carrier. The original was a self contained mini caravan with all mod cons. An iPad will not boil a kettle or make a bacon sarnie. This has nothing. What a disappointment. Marketing gone mad. Clearly your staff have no knowledge of camping.

By FL51SVV on 2 March, 2011, 11:02am

omg - wtf???

What have VW done to the campervan, it looks awful.

I looked at the Nissan Cube this year and that looks like a cross between the Cube with face of a Juke (which looks ugly!).

I probably get more space in my Nissan Note than in that thing, they've took the iconic campervan and destroyed it, probably worst thing is the front, it just doesn't look anything like a campervan.

By TheKLF99 on 2 March, 2011, 11:12am

Too tiny in size and reach.

What a shame VW hasn't really thought about the whole idea of a true Camper Van. As many have pointed out earlier, this can justifiably be called a Cramper Van ... and a Bully doesn't sound too good either.
I drive around with a sighthound and often overnight somewhere. Most station wagons are too small these days, more like estate sports. Take a look at M-B A and B-classes, even their inadequate rear space is bigger than this so called VW Camper.
They really shouldn't loose this opportunity of reviving the old VW Van. It was of a good size and bringing it up to date in style and with a hybrid engine shouldn't be too much to ask for.
There is a niche for a medium sized camper van, between proper mobile homes and SUVs. For those who need the space but not a complete palace on wheels.

By IRdesign on 2 March, 2011, 2:25pm

What's the point

It will probably go the same way as the excellent Microbus concept from 2001. I hate when manufacturers tease us with concepts then fail to follow through.

By erly5 on 3 March, 2011, 1:37pm

Ugly as sin

It looks like a cross between a Bugatti EB110 and a Mini, but is good at nothing. No fridge, no cooker, no beds, no power, no good looks and worst of all - you'll be driving a huge advertisement for VW with that monstrous badge on the bonnet.

By davemac123 on 4 March, 2011, 8:11pm

Make this please !!!

Most people have 2 kids who both want to take a friend on days out. So six seats is what is required, not a seven seater with a tiny boot. Some bold car maker needs to fill the space left by the Honda FRV and Fiat Multipla but this time make it with some style. Come on VW.

By leelev on 13 March, 2011, 9:08pm

Make this please !!!

Most people have 2 kids who both want to take a friend on days out. So six seats is what is required, not a seven seater with a tiny boot. Some bold car maker needs to fill the space left by the Honda FRV and Fiat Multipla but this time make it with some style. Come on VW.

By leelev on 13 March, 2011, 9:08pm

We’ve been waiting for so long for this and it could be a real winner – but not looking like this! Not retro enough – just a very ordinary MPV with a big badge and 2-tone paint. To stand out and become a born again icon (like the Beetle, Mini and Fiat 500) it needs to be more faithful to the original.
I think the extra width is good to allow space for camping stuff alongside 4 seats and I like the interior.
Have another go VW and keep the price realistic and I’m sure they’ll sell like hot cakes!

By BugsBunny on 15 March, 2011, 11:38pm

VW has killed the BUS!!!

We shall call it ANTI-BUS

By VWHippie on 6 April, 2011, 6:10pm

A Camper lol

This is no camper, i have seen plenty and have a T4 which is a semi camper and it looks a lot bigger than Jack Rix standing next to it. That is the downside.
On the plus side i think it looks great as an MPV and i would be interested if you can fit 3 child seats in the rear as we have triplets and cannot find a car/Mpv big enough for them.
I am a big VW fan and like this Bulli but not for camping

By sunworshipper64 on 12 April, 2011, 1:59pm

It's not a bus, it's a great car...

This isn't built to be a camper van, or a modern equivalent to the classic VW vans, so it's a completely pointless to complain about it on that level. If you want a modern VW camper, buy a California. This car is only as long as a Polo and cleverly packaged to offer a mini-mpv layout plus a little extra functionality and appeal - it's a family car, and all the better for it. Classic and modern camper vans are all based on commercial vehicles - that's where the profit comes from - and the camper conversions are a just niche products. This concept is all about mainstream motoring for families, and I can't think of a similar-sized car currently produced that I'd rather own. One last thing - I've owned a type 2 Westfalia conversion, and there is no possible way a modern vehicle could replace it. If you want classic, buy a classic, but I'll be buying one of these... I'll have mine in grey and white please, VW.

By Drake on 15 April, 2011, 10:38am

It's not a bus, it's a great car...

This isn't built to be a camper van, or a modern equivalent to the classic VW vans, so it's a completely pointless to complain about it on that level. If you want a modern VW camper, buy a California. This car is only as long as a Polo and cleverly packaged to offer a mini-mpv layout plus a little extra functionality and appeal - it's a family car, and all the better for it. Classic and modern camper vans are all based on commercial vehicles - that's where the profit comes from - and the camper conversions are a just niche products. This concept is all about mainstream motoring for families, and I can't think of a similar-sized car currently produced that I'd rather own. One last thing - I've owned a type 2 Westfalia conversion, and there is no possible way a modern vehicle could replace it. If you want classic, buy a classic, but I'll be buying one of these... I'll have mine in grey and white please, VW.

By Drake on 15 April, 2011, 10:57am