Although Volkswagen is working with Chrysler on what is known as “Concept M”—which will be a minivan that is slated to appear in the within the next couple of years (based on the forthcoming ’08 Chrysler minivan)—for reasons not entirely clear (publicity? engineering experiment?), VW had OSRAM SYLVANIA (Hillsboro, NH; www.sylvania.com) transform a 1964 Type 2 Transporter (a.k.a. the “Microbus,” beloved particularly in and around the San Francisco area back in the days of flowers, beads, and, well, you know) by providing the latest in lighting technology for the vehicle. This includes an electric motor, roof-mounted solar panels, and all of the forward and auxiliary lighting. They deployed the OSRAM Joule LED systems for the lighting:

• Reflector optic LEDs for the amber front turn signals (including a VW logo on the cap)
• Direct-view light guide optic red LEDs for the rear turn signals
• White LEDs for the low and high beams and daytime running lights.

Remarked David Hulick, OSRAM SYLVANIA global product manager for auxiliary lighting, “Volkswagen challenged us to create a new ‘look’ for the classic VW bus without changing the vehicle’s structure or character.”

While the front of this ’64 VW van may look familiar, if you look closely you’ll see that the lighting is entirely different: LEDs have replaced all of the 20th-century bulbs in the system.	One clever touch by the OSRAM SYLVANIA lighting people: the VW logo on the tip of the turn signal.