CES 2016: Volkswagen to unveil Microbus

Volkswagen is set to once again tease the world with yet another vision of what a 21st Century vision of a Kombi might look when it unveils a pure-electric people-mover concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.

This time, according to British car magazine Autocar, the unnamed concept will be close to production, with Volkswagen expected to announce that the Microbus will be made at its Puebla factory in Mexico and be on sale in 2017.

Using the latest Volkswagen Group lithium-ion battery technology, the production version of a Microbus could have a range as great as 500km.

Conventional small turbo petrol and diesel engines will also be offered.

Earlier this year in April, a senior VW exec confirmed both engineers and designers were working on a new concept for the Kombi that could draw heavy influence from the 2011 Bulli concept unveilled at the Geneva motor show.

Back in 2011, the Bulli (pictured) was powered by a 40kWh lithium-ion battery pack that sat below the floor. With an electric motor that produced 85kW, the concept was capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in 11.5 seconds with a top speed of 130km/h.

As well as its high-tech powertrain, VW's CES concept is also set to showcase the German brand’s state-of-the-art fully autonomous driving aids.

According to Autocar, Volkswagen hopes the small pure-electric van will help reposition its brand image post-Dieselgate.