Photos: Classic VW camper gets tech treatment

Some of the updates to the older design include solar panels on the roof and furniture that appears to be straight out of an Ikea catalog. The modern look and feel comes from French-Canadian designer Alexandre Verdier. There's no word, however, on whether VW plans to ever put the new design into production.

On the interior, the passenger seat can be transformed into steps that allow easier access to the popped-up roof. The dashboard incorporates a computer with wireless Internet access.

A swivel mount allows travelers to use the range to cook meals either inside or outside the camper.

The drawing board is one thing; road tests are another. For that reason, VW's Palo Alto, Calif.-based Electronics Research Laboratory has retrofitted a 1964 Deluxe Microbus dubbed the "Chameleon." The lab teamed with a company called Hybrid Technologies to replace the original engine with an all-electric-drive motor powered by lithium polymer batteries. The surfboards on the roof are lined with flexible solar panels as an additional energy source. Updates on the interior include an interactive digital instrument cluster, digitally enhanced sound, rear-seat entertainment options, and speech-activated controls.