Most van fans probably know that Volkswagen is doing the worst possible thing and dumbing down its van heritage by rebadging new Dodge Caravans as an un-named new VW van. I know not that many people will miss the Eurovan. But there are still countless Microbus and Vanagon owners who wise the marque would bring back their air-cooled flower powered vans.

Here is just one thought that occured to me on a possible dream scenario. Recently Volkswagen had a near majority stake purchased by Porsche, headed by the great grandson of Dr. Porsche, an obviously major proponent of rear engined vehicles. Now, apparently, VW is going to unveil a new basic city car that is rear engined for emerging markets and Europe. (Possibly the US, too.) I just hope that project will be successful enough that they might broaden the scope to a new rear engined VW van.

Why may you ask am I so into rear engined VW vans? Well, having driven a few rear engined VW vans (as well as Bugs and Porsches) there are unique handling traits to these vehicles that are endlessly entertaining in my eyes. From an engineering standpoint, having an engine in the back makes little sense. A rear engined car can bite you in the rear (so to speak) when carving down your favorite back road. It just really WANTS to make you spin four times and go through a hedge.

But there is something that makes me want to head out on the road and see the country when I recall my times driving a Microvan or Vanagon. Perhaps this need for the road prompted by these vans is what created the "Deadhead". The Dead was never a very good band (nor is Phish for that matter) yet they still had all of these fans. So perhaps people followed the band merely out of a need for a purpose to drive so darn much. Just a thought.  

Yes, there have been rumors of rear-engine VWs making a comeback, but if you read the fine print, they're going to be water-cooled. Heck, even the Mexican and Brazilian models of the old Microbus are water-cooled now!

The fact of the matter is, air-cooled engines don't like being under load. The reason they kind of worked (emphasis on "kind of") on the Beetle and Microbus is they were relatively lightweight vehicles. If you combine high speeds and heavy loads, you almost have to go with water-cooled.

Air-cooled works fine for motorcycles, scooters, and some third-world cars, but not for modern vans or SUVs.  

I think it would be really cool to see a remake of the Microbus. Kinda like they did with the beetle.  

My only concern personally with the water cooling of a rear engined VW van is you would lose the snub nosed styling so associated with the Vanagon and Microbus. I know the most recent Porsches are water cooled but there have been complaints from Porshche-philes (my brother being one of them....he is on his fifth) that it makes the snout hang too far over the front wheels. My brother says it makes his two year old 911 scrape the lower valance going into driveways. (Yes, I know, I am crying for him) Anyway, the rumor is that Porsche is devising a new air cooled method for the next 911 out in 2010 or 11. If they can manage it on something with 380 horsepower, surely they can on a van. One that is slower, the better I say...Who wants a turbo microbus? Actually that might be cool. But will it be air or water-cooled?  

They could always build it like the big diesel pusher motor homes and mount the rad in the side behind some fents and use an electric fan to pull the air though it.  

Balboa, I seriously doubt that Porsche will revert to air cooling. Other than not having to worry about your radiator hose popping and losing your coolant, there aren't many advantages to it.  

esanchez:
Balboa, I seriously doubt that Porsche will revert to air cooling. Other than not having to worry about your radiator hose popping and losing your coolant, there aren't many advantages to it.

Many I can't think of any. Even my Harley gets too hot sitting in traffic.  

What kind of Hog do you have, Superbeast? What've you done on it?  

esanchez:
What kind of Hog do you have, Superbeast? What've you done on it?

It's a rigid frame 75 Sporty. Here is a pic with my girls