Last of the air-cooled Kombi engines

Production of the last Volkswagen model line with an air-cooled engine will end in Brazil this month.

Volkswagen do Brasil will then replace the air-cooled 1.6-litre boxer engine in its locally-made Kombi van with a more modern 1.4-litre water-cooled unit to meet tougher emissions laws.

The Brazilian unit still makes the Kombi Type 2, the second generation model introduced in Germany in 1968 (and made there until 1976), with a slightly raised roof and sliding passenger side rear door. Until now, the model was offered only with an air-cooled 43kW (58bhp) 1.6 litre petrol engine, or a 50kW (67bhp) alcohol version.

VW needs to change the engine to comply with new Brazilian emission rules for commercial vehicles. From this year, all the vehicles sold in the country must meet the new Proconve 5 emission standard (based on the EUs Euro 3 rules).

However, the air-cooled engine assembly line at VWs Anchieta plant will still produce motors for several more months after the van's engine change to build stocks for the aftermarket.

To celebrate the end of its last air-cooled model, Volkswagen do Brasil is launching a special edition of 200 units of the Kombi, called Serie Prata (Silver Series).

This last-of-line model has the final-specification air-cooled 1.6-litre engine with multipoint electronic injection, similar to the unit used in the last Mexican-produced rear-engined VW Beetles.

VW has confirmed that the Kombi Type 2 will soldier on in Brazil with its new water-cooled engine.

The model line in original Type 1 form has been made in Brazil since 1957. Between January and October this year Volkswagen Brazil sold 10,978 units, up 5.4 per cent year on year.