FYI: new VW Microbus will not look totally awesome like in this picture

Even though everyone was really excited a few years ago when Volkswagen announced they were going to make a production version of the Microbus that won raves as a concept car, VW is scrapping the retro design in favor of something with more universal appeal. VW realized that it was styling the vehicle specifically for success in the U.S. market, which they've since realized does not necessarily translate to global success. And one thing VW cannot risk is global success. So the new as-yet-unseen design will share parts with the Euro-market T5 van, and will probably not at all resemble the funky love bus seen in the above image. Manufacturing will begin in Hanover in 2007.