Volkswagen presents the e-Bulli, an electric vehicle based on the legendary T1 Samba Bus from 1966. The 44-horsepower four-cylinder boxer engine gave way to a quiet, zero-emission 61 kW engine. A comparison of the power of the two engines alone shows that the e-Bulli has completely new propulsion characteristics, as the electric is almost twice as powerful as the boxer. In addition, at 212 Nm, the new transmission provides more than twice the torque of the original T1 (102 Nm).
Parallel to the new propulsion system, a new interior design has also been created, defined by Volkswagen as elegant and avant-garde at the same time. The look and its technical solutions were developed by the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle Style Centre in cooperation with VWCV Vintage Vehicles. The designers have modernised the exterior of the van with sensitivity and finesse, giving it an original two-tone paint finish: Energetic Orange Metallic and Golden Sand Metallic Mat. Although the overall styling of the vehicle has remained virtually identical to the original, some details have been changed, such as the new round LED headlamps with daytime running lights or the external winding indicators. When approaching the vehicle they indicate how much charge is left in the lithium-ion batteries.
The interior has also been revised. Looking through the windows you can see that something has changed since the historic T1. The seats are new and have colours reminiscent of the exterior paintwork: white Saint Tropez and Arancio Saffrano. Between driver and passenger, positioned in a new console, is the gear lever. Other details of the interior have also been significantly modernized. If the new speedometer is based on the design of the original, the integrated display creates a stylistic bridge with modernity: this is demonstrated by the digital display inside the speedometer which provides the driver with various information including the most important one: the autonomy, so as not to leave the six passengers on foot.
