The VW Microbus; beloved of Californian 'surf-dudes', 1970s hippies heading for the far east and far out, and.. erm.. Jamie Oliver. It was never pretty, fast, or particulary exciting; but now, thanks to those cheeky lab-coated boffins at Volkswagen - it does at least have more tehcnology on board than Darth Vader's bathroom.Caranddriver.com reports on the latest concept plaything from VW's Electronics Research Laborotary (sounds like a Nazi torture chamber - appropriately enough for Ze People's Kar Kompany). Despite being little more than a lovingly refettled 1964 hippie-wagon at first glance, this particular hunk of free love-era junk has been turned into a showcase for some of the latest interactive automotive tech.
There's all sorts of complex jiggery-pokery going on, including voice activated controls and 'touch-pads'. Of course, common petroleum is far too neanderthal to propel something so unashamedly 'Silicon-Valley'. No - instead roof mounted, 'surfboard' solar panels help charge the rear-mounted electric motor.
No, it won't make it into production - but it does at least put a different spin on the now-tired retro concept that VW kicked off in the first place.
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