Remember the Microbus concept Volkswagen brought to the Detroit auto show in 2001? Styled under the direction of former VW design chief Hartmut Warkuß and a pet project of erstwhile VW CEO Ferdinand Piëch, it fell out of favor when Bernd Pischetsrieder took over as CEO and installed his own design head. Although the van had moved close to production—VW even had a plant in mind to build it—its lines did not fit former Peugeot and Mercedes designer Murat Günak's styling language, and the project was cancelled in 2006.

Piëch must have made a mental note, because now the Microbus is back, on the front-wheel-drive platform of the Touran, a Golf-derived compact minivan not sold in the U.S. The retro-futuristic van likely will be just slightly smaller than the original concept, but look nearly identical. It will be unveiled in 2013, and production is expected to start in 2014.

Motivation for the new Microbus will come from several engines in VW’s parts bin, including four-cylinder gas and turbo-diesels. Power will be channeled to the front wheels through a manual transmission or VW's six- or seven-speed dual-clutch gearboxes. All-wheel drive is a possibility, and VW might build a range-extended EV version in the style of the Chevrolet Volt.

U.S. sales are almost a certainty. The New Beetle had its greatest successes here, and the old "Lovebus"—which you can still buy new in Brazil as the Kombi—is still fondly remembered. Production of the Microbus will coincide with the launch of another new, bigger van, a replacement for the Chrysler-supplied Routan to be built in Tennessee on VW's own platform. It just goes to show that, in its race for world domination, VW will be paying equal attention to mainstream and niche. For that, we are grateful.