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#TBT Concept: 2001 Volkswagen Microbus

#TBT Concept: 2001 Volkswagen Microbus

In the auto industry’s annals of missed opportunities, few stand out quite like the 2001 Volkswagen Microbus concept. In an era where people movers were gaining in popularity, and Volkswagen held a cachet among young and wealthy Americans for a certain Germanic coolness, the Microbus concept was an outright hit upon its debut at the 2001 Detroit auto show. Retro-themed concepts were quite the rage at the time, and the Microbus successfully recalled its forebears while offering all the amenities and space a modern family could want.

Designed in VW’s California studios, the Microbus had a lot of show-car flourishes, but also accurately forecast what people would want from their family haulers — three rows of seats, and lots of screens, with monitors in the back of the first and second row of seats, along with pop-up screens for the third row.

Why was it never built? VW knew it had a potential hit on its hands, and had slated the Microbus for production in 2004 — but getting the concept’s shape to meet modern safety standards and fit onto the corporate van chassis proved too difficult, and the idea was scuttled. (That lack of front overhang that’s a key trait of the old Microbus look would likely fail most crash tests.)

VW has continued to play with the idea — and even had Chrysler build a version of its minivans, the unsuccessful Routan. In 2011, VW showed off an electric concept van dubbed the Bulli, one with a longer nose than the Microbus, but still very much in the same vein. Last year, analysts forecast that VW would finally pull the trigger on a Microbus-like vehicle in 2019. Meanwhile, the demand for classic Microbuseshas grown so much that pristine copies now sell for more than $200,000. Maybe someday families will have a way to feel so groovy again at a much lower price.

707-HP Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat Coming Soon

Rumors have been swirling, and earlier this month we talked about the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk receiving the Hellcat powertrain. Our sources have confirmed that it’s coming, and have also confirmed some details.

It’s called Project K, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] doesn’t want you to know it’s been given the green light for production. Not only has it been approved, but mules are testing the powertrain using 2016 Grand Cherokee bodies.

When it hits the streets, the Hellcat-powered Jeep will be a 2017 model year.

Sources say the Trackhawk will feature the same supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 as other Hellcats, and output should remain about 707 horsepower. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission will handle shifting duties, and all-wheel drive will be standard. Whether torque is limited to preserve the all-wheel-drive system or not has yet to be confirmed.

Performance should be nothing short of breathtaking. Our source says the HellJeep will be capable of an estimated top speed of 200 mph and should run the 0-60 mph dash in under 3. Thank the standard all-wheel drive for the insane acceleration.

We reached out to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to ask about Project K and the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk/Hellcat. A spokesperson would only say, “We don’t comment on future products.”

Think a Hellcatted Grand Cherokee is just overkill for hauling the boat on the weekend? Our source also told us the Grand Cherokee SRT together with a name change would receive a power increase from its 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 to an estimated 490 horsepower.

We’ll bring you more information as it becomes available.