I saw the new beetle yesterday and am very impressed.

I was thinking that it would be really cool, and probably really successful,
if VW did a similar retro of the Bus.  I know personally many people that
"wouldn't be caught dead" in a mini-van and end up buying big SUV's for the
extra room (yeah, right) and that "I can go anywhere" perception.  But man, if
VW came out with a new bus that:
- captured the look of the old bus ("way cool")
- had a synchro option ("I can go anywhere" )
- had cavernous interior space ("and carry all that stuff")
- had a camper and weekender option ("and I can stay if I want")
- had modernized power-plant and mechanicals ("and I can leave if I want")

they wouldn't be able to build them fast enough.

Everyone I talk to has some nostalgia associated with the bug.  The problem is
that, imo, the small car is not where people's heads are at today.  Its with
the minivans and SUV's.  I think VW, with a decent implementation and some good
marketing, could really capitalize.  And I'd be their first customer.

Tom Ervolina
Enterprise Solutions Research
IBM
Yorktown Heights, NY
ervolina@us.ibm.com