2001 Volkswagen Microbus

The Microbus was designed in the Volkswagen design studio in California especially for the US market. The Microbus references an old tradition of campers and vans, starting in 1950 with the first VW bus. This Volkswagen was successful worldwide and reached cult status, especially in the USA, with the name Microbus. The design study is a new definition of this cult status: A contemporary expression of personality and freedom. The Microbus offers 3 rows of seats. The middle centre seats can be turned through 180 degrees and the third row has been designed as a seat bench. Intelligent features such as these are characteristic of many features in the interior. The Microbus can be transformed into a veritable car cinema: The appropriate visual images are provided by a 7" screen in the centre console, four monitors in the backrests of the first and second rows as well as two extendable displays between the second and third rows. A second 7 inch screen, located towards the front of the roof area, provides a view of what is behind the Microbus. The picture is provided by a so-called backeye camera. Along with both the exterior mirrors, this provides a comprehensive view of what is behind the vehicle. Source: Internet

2000 Volkswagen AAC

In the middle of the Volkswagen exhibit, on a raised turntable, is the Advanced Activity Concept (AAC). AAC was a design study vehicle, which combined the luxury and comfort of a sedan with the versatility of a pickup truck. The AAC featured full-time 4-wheel drive and a V-10 diesel engine that produced 313 horsepower. Source: Internet

1991 Volkswagen Vario II

The Vario II is a 2+2 with a modular roofing system proposed by the Swiss student Alexander Guye of the Art Center College. Of the various solutions presented, it was this one that appealed most to Herbert Schafer and he decided to transpose it into 1:1 scale. This is a more futuristic car than the Vario I, but a dream car that responds perfectly to the will to demonstrate on a concrte basis the versatilityof the Golf-Syncro platform. The Volkswagen Vario was a design study shown in Frankfurt way back in 1991. It has a vario-roof folding-steel top that has only recently gone into production. Other futuristic design elements include slim-line headlights and multi-dome taillights, since copied by other manufacturers. Source: Internet

1991 Volkswagen Vario I

This was an attempt to build a fun open top vehicle based on the Golf platform, a sort of Golf version of the old VW Safari of the 1960's. Source: Internet

1989 Volkswagen Futura

The Futura - How cool is a people carrier with gull-wing doors The VW Futura was a compact van (VW could have got ahead in the MPV market with this one) with gull wing doors opening up, not out, giving way to both rows of seats. It was an all wheel drive vehicle. The 82 hp engine, had a mechanic supercharger and an original evaporation cooling system. This is not a lot of power for modern engines, but the Futura weighed only 1000 kg. The evaporation cooling system made it unnecessary for the car to have a pump and ventilator. It also featured a new electronic system of reducing noise inside the vehicle consisting of several loud speakers that cancelled out the engine noise (useful in a Beetle or Bus no doubt). Source: Internet

1988 Volkswagen Scooter

the Scooter - maybe they got cold feet after the Sinclair C5 A more ambitious attempt at a frugal city vehicle, and not dissimilar to the present VW concept 3 wheeler seen in this magazine "the scooter was a future car with sporty performance and the coolest styling idea of the 1980's" gull wing doors, as seen on the DeLorean. An idea that was not realised at the time - but is being revisited by Volkswagen today. Source: Internet

1982 Volkswagen Student

Aptly named the Student was Volkswagens second attempt at a sub Lupo budget city car. Powered by the Polo’s 1.1 litre engine and drivetrain, this little car was shown off to the press but the idea was never realised. Source: Internet