Friday, October 13, 2006

I found my next car

Or, make that a 1964 VW Micro Bus. My sister had an original back in the early 80s. I always wanted one. Now, this classic has been reborn as an electric concept care. When VW moves it to production, I'm getting one.

From the outside, the Chameleon concept looks like a pristine, classic 1964 Volkswagen bus. On the inside, it's a complete technology showcase created by Volkswagen of America's Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto. The drivetrain is all electric, powered by lithium polymer batteries -- those surfboards on the roof are lined with flexible solar panels for extra juice. The interior is a museum of tech: an interactive digital instrument cluster with embedded touch pads, digital audio and video, a wide-angle back-up camera display and speech-activated controls. An optional titanium-lined hookah with touch and vacuum sensors and thermoelectric cooling is not included.

Source: A New Old Bus: Volkswagen Updates a 1964 Microbus with Gadgets - Jalopnik