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NEW BULLI
Wolfsburg/Geneva, 28 February 2011 - The Volkswagen
bus, like no other car, stands for the spirit of
freedom. It debuted over 60 years ago in 1950 with a
contagiously simple design. Its internal Volkswagen
code name was T1 for Transporter 1. The Germans
called it the Bulli, and to Americans it was the
Microbus. It was driven on all continents. And the
world’s first van is still appreciated by a fan base
which spans the globe. Now Volkswagen is
reinterpreting the compact original form of this
automotive legend and sending it into the future –
in the form of a concept vehicle for a new
generation Bulli! It is spacious like it was in
1950, it is as inspirational as ever, and it has
clean styling like never before.
In this vehicle, Volkswagen is finishing what it
started in 2001: ten years ago, the vision of a new
Bulli led to an unforgettable concept vehicle known
as the Microbus. But some visions need to mature
before they yield something new. Now, the time is
right for this vision. That is because the concept
was sharpened, and the necessary, sustainable
technologies are now at hand. More compact and
affordable than the earlier concept vehicle, it is
now being shown in Geneva. The new Bulli – powered
by an electric motor and fitted with six seats and
infotainment control via iPad.
This concept has the potential to establish a new,
fifth brand of people carrier next to the Caddy,
Touran, Sharan and its large counterpart – the
Caravelle. The Bulli could even become an icon like
the T1 Samba that still trades at extremely high
prices today – one of those few vehicles that simply
do not fade with time.
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Zero emissions – up to 300 km on a single battery
charge
Thanks to highly advanced drive technologies, the
Bulli being shown in Geneva is what is referred to
as a ‘zero emissions vehicle,’ because the concept
is electrically powered. Zero emissions at the
tailpipe. The Bulli’s electric motor outputs 85 kW
of power and an impressive 270 Newton metres of
torque. As is usual with this type of drive, its
maximum forces are generated from standstill. The
silent motor is supplied with energy from a
lithium-ion battery with a maximum storage capacity
of 40 kWh. This electrifying combination enables
driving ranges of up to 300 km – a high value for an
electric car. When the Bulli’s battery is charged at
an "electric refuelling station" specially designed
for electric vehicles, the charging process takes
less than one hour.
The new Bulli accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5
seconds, and its top speed is 140 km/h
(electronically limited). Its range and driving
performance not only make the compact vehicle ideal
for short distances; but also ideal for most
commuters and recreational activities with zero
tailpipe emissions.
Naturally, the concept can also incorporate
Volkswagen’s extremely efficient petrol and diesel
direct injection engines as alternative drives.
Engines with 1.0 or 1.4 litre displacement that are
fuel efficient yet strong; this is downsizing by the
book. Ideal for anyone who wants to cover maximum
distances with minimal fuel consumption.
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Bulli – the idea goes back 64 years
Without the Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon, the
T1 might not have existed, and of course neither
would the Bulli concept vehicle at Geneva. That is
because Pon was the person who on 23 April, 1947,
sketched a picture of a compact bus in his notebook.
Actually, the Dutchman’s drawing was a simple side
view of a radically shortened public omnibus placed
over the wheelbase of a Beetle with an "m" for
"motor" written on it. That was it. The world’s
first van was born. Great ideas usually just take a
few strokes of the pen, but then they require a
dedicated effort to implement them. Volkswagen
designers took this sketch and created the bus that
became an automotive icon with the characteristic
"V" in front.
The Bulli concept vehicle now follows in the
footsteps of the original bus and demonstrates the
concept of maximum space utilisation with the
characteristic "V" with VW logo at the front end and
the cleanest of proportions. In the process, the
concept vehicle’s design follows the maxims of the
new Volkswagen "design DNA." Retro? Hardly. It is a
Volkswagen! The team led by Walter de Silva, Head of
Volkswagen Group Design, and Klaus Bischoff, Head of
Design of the Volkswagen brand, developed the
"design DNA" for the modern era based on styling
principles of the bestselling Beetle, Golf I and T1.
Design – visual world of a masterpiece
The new edition of the Bulli is 3.99 metres long,
1.75 metres wide and 1.70 metres tall. The T1 was
somewhat longer and taller, but narrower. With a
wheelbase of 2.62 metres, the Bulli utilises the
overall length very well. Also striking here are the
Bulli’s relatively large track widths (1.50 m front
and rear) in relation to body width.
Front end: Like the Samba bus before it, the Bulli
being presented in Geneva also has two-tone paint –
in this case white and red. The "V" on the bonnet,
is kept white. The bonnet does house the engine:
instead of rear-wheel drive with a boxer engine, as
on the Samba, the Bulli has an electric motor
located forward of the front axle and front-wheel
drive. Here it is a compact integral drive whose
primary components are an E-motor, high-voltage
pulse inverter and DC/DC converter for the 12-Volt
electrical system.
In keeping with the Volkswagen design DNA, there is
a horizontal layout of the narrow dual headlights
with L-shaped LED daytime running lights and turn
indicators implemented as LEDs arranged in an
inverted L shape at each outer corner. Incidentally,
LEDs not only exhibit tremendous luminous power and
long life; due to their low energy consumption they
are ideal for the electrically powered Bulli of
2011. Located between the headlights in the bonnet
is, as always, the VW logo. On the level beneath,
one finds – once again arranged in a horizontal line
– the air intakes for the passenger compartment and
for battery cooling or for cooling the alternative
conventional drives.
Finally, the bumper that is seamlessly integrated in
the front end completes the design. Laterally, it
exhibits a large round fog light on each side,
another air intake in the middle, and a front
spoiler in black below. This line matches the lines
of the side sills.
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Side profile: The Bulli’s two-tone paint also
distinguishes the sides. Treated in white is the
entire area above what is known as the character
line. Originating in the wings is a white stripe
that runs to the distinctive D-pillars; above them,
the entire roof section is painted in this colour.
The continuous line of windows creates an especially
striking contrast between the white sections. Here
the visually slender black pillars executed in the
style of the 2001 Microbus concept are visually
striking. Painted in red are the door mirror
housings protruding from the line of windows.
Beneath the character line is the red body area.
Design elements such as the distinctive wheel
housings, the additional shape modulation in the
door surfaces above the side sills and the
headlights that wrap around to the sides with
minimal seams are details that would not have been
possible to manufacture in this form and precision
on a T1. Concealed in the sandwiched floor behind
the sills is the 1,450 kg Bulli’s lithium-ion
battery. The white door handles are practical,
opening in the direction of pull. The 18-inch alloy
wheels are especially attractive. At their centres
are stylised chrome hubcaps – another tribute to the
bus of years past. Shorter than ever are the
overhangs at the front and rear.
Rear section: The Volkswagen design DNA with its
horizontal lines also dominates the rear of the new
Bulli. Viewed from the bottom upwards, above the
body-coloured bumper (including black, stylised
diffuser) there is the tailgate that extends across
the entire width of the vehicle. In the tailgate,
the narrow LED rear lights continue a theme from the
Microbus concept of 2001. At the centre, but smaller
than at the front end: the VW symbol. When all six
seating locations are fully occupied, there is a 370
litre bootspace behind the tailgate.
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Interior space – melding of car and iPad
Like the body design, the interior is also marked by
a level of clarity whose consistent application can
only be found at Volkswagen. The passenger
compartment – immersed in light during the day
thanks to its panoramic sunroof – also harbours some
surprises.
A practical highlight: like the T1 in times past,
thanks to its level floor the new Bulli is also
equipped with a single bench seat in front. The van
offers space for three in the rear as well.
An infotainment highlight: a removable iPad in the
centre console serves as a multifunctional
touchscreen. Along with Internet-based iPad
applications and the media centre, it also handles
control of such functions as Bluetooth hands-free
telephone and a navigation system. Integrated right
on the iPad mount are controls for the climate
control system and the centrally located hazard
warning switch.
Typical Volkswagen: all cockpit details are clearly
organised and designed to be intuitive. Running
laterally across the entire width is a line with air
vents. In front of the driver, there is a
speedometer in the shape of a semicircle. A colour
multifunction display, also semi-circular in shape,
can be used to view and control (via multifunctional
keys in the steering wheel and on it) the navigation
system, telephone, trip computer and media centre –
the entire unit of speedometer and multifunction
display also communicates with the iPad. The key
word here is sound: a system produced by legendary
guitar and amplifier manufacturer Fender (USA)
ensures that the music sounds as though it were
being performed live. At Woodstock in 1969, Jimi
Hendrix played "The Star-Spangled Banner" – the
American national anthem – on a Fender Stratocaster
guitar.
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What is not found in the Bulli is a tachometer
(unnecessary with an electric motor) or a
conventional gear shift or gear selection lever
(also unnecessary with an electric motor). The
latter is replaced by a rotary switch to the right
of the driver, which is used to activate forward and
reverse gears. A pushbutton in the same switch is
used to start and stop the motor. Another rotary
switch to the left of the driver is used to control
the lighting functions.
Seats become reclining surface in an instant
The outer and middle seat positions of the front
bench seat can be folded down (2/3 split); the rear
beach seat, meanwhile, can be completely stowed.
When the rear bench seat is stowed, cargo capacity
increases to 1,600 litres. In addition – and here
the new Bulli is reminiscent of its legendary
ancestor – the seat system can be transformed into a
large reclining surface with just a few manual
movements. This turns the compact MPV into a compact
camper – the ultimate companion for a weekend trip.
At least as important for many users, however, is
that the seating system should not only be versatile
but also offer maximum comfort. The seat position is
comfortably high and is equally relaxing. As an
added benefit, it offers an optimised view forward
as well. And that is how it was in the T1 too.
Contributing to peace of mind aboard today’s vehicle
is the fact that the new era Bulli is equipped with
all conceivable safety features. And that is the
crucial difference: the car has essentially been
reinvented since the days of the first T1 aka the
Bulli aka the Microbus.
*Words & Photos courtesy of Volkswagen AG
