The new VW samba bus is based on the classic version of the first VW Transporter from 1950, but the similarities are only skin-deep. Over 15 innovative ideas have been realised in the bus, which has been named 'Chameleon'. - Photo courtesy of Volkswagen

At Volkswagen's Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) in Palo Alto, California, you can currently take a look into the future. The packaging is a familiar face from the '60s: the Samba-Bus. But although the bus is based on the classic version of the first VW Transporter from 1950, the similarities are only skin-deep. On the inside it features values going far into the future. America had a particular attachment to the Samba-Bus, or the '21 Window Bus' as it was affectionately known there. In its time it touched a whole new generation of Americans. Especially in California, it was the bus that symbolised the motorisation of young Americans, freedom and a new taste for life.

The ERL has transferred this spirit into the new millennium under the motto 'Hidden Technologies' with a 'Samba-Bus' which only when you look closely reveals a spectacular level of technical sophistication. From the outside, it may look as if it is straight of the forecourt of a 1964 Volkswagen dealership, but in the interior, you encounter a stunning range of innovations in audio, video, sensor systems, navigation, lights and solar engineering. Never before have so many different projects been brought together in a single vehicle. Over 15 innovative ideas have been realised in the bus, which has been named 'Chameleon'.

EXCLUSIVE ELECTRIC MOTOR

Since embracing the fuel-efficient VW bus as an environmentally friendly car in the '60s, Californians have valued environmental protection highly. To underscore the 'Chameleon's' ecological intent, the decision was made to power it exclusively by an electric motor. The motor receives its energy from advanced lithium polymer batteries fitted into the vehicle floor and from the solar cells on the roof . The old speedometer unit has been removed from the dash and replaced by an ultra-modern digital dial, which incorporates the functions of all the old instrument displays. It also serves as a command centre that can do much more than indicate the speed and engine revs.

The Infotainment system provides online navigation using a high-detail 3D display, an MP3 player with voice recognition, a parking assistant and the screen for the reversing camera. Not only the rear lights and turn signals, but also the 2006 Samba's headlights use the latest LED technology. This demands the major achievement of creating dipped and main beam lights using LEDs. The bulbs are now brighter, last a vehicle's lifetime and can be packaged into almost any conceivable shape thanks to their small dimensions. The rear passengers haven't been neglected either. A home cinema system with a gigantic 80-inch screen is installed behind the front seats. Because of the 21 windows, the 'Chameleon' interior would normally be far too bright for a TV screen. The problem was solved using Sony ChromaVue High Contrast equipment, which was developed for bright rooms and offers extremely good contrasts. The result is a breath-taking in-car cinema experience.

KEYLESS LOCKING SYSTEM

The 'Chameleon' also features a new keyless locking system which scans the palm of your hand. It is more secure than checking fingerprints and also allows persons to be divided into the following groups:

People allowed to unlock the vehicle.

People allowed to move the vehicle.

People who may not enter the vehicle at all.

The wide-angle camera on the rear of the vehicle eliminates the blind spot when parking. You can also choose between four different camera settings to make sure that this historic gem of a vehicle does not pick up any scratches. Many other innovations round off the design, such as the freely programmable sticker on the rear bumper. This is in fact a wafer-thin, highly flexible foil which can display texts and images, as a monitor. You can let the traffic behind know how you are feeling or say whatever you want to say as the mood takes you. It is quite literally a bus back to the future or a Samba americano.