| Volkswagen of America, Inc. has just received | | | | were actually lined with solar panels). |
| recognition from The Communicator Awards 2007 | | | | |
| Print Media Competition for its U.S. media | | | | Vickie Chiang, an engineer at ERL, who also |
| launch of the Volkswagen Chameleon concept | | | | served as Volkswagen's spokesperson at the |
| vehicle. | | | | media introduction said that they are proud |
| | | | of the award because a lot of talented people |
| The media launch of the VW Chameleon was held | | | | put considerable time and effort into |
| in concert with the start of the 2006 | | | | developing the vehicle. "I remember the |
| Convergence electronics show in Detroit. | | | | journalists were quite intrigued with how we |
| Because of the amount of positive coverage in | | | | were able to successfully marry 21st century |
| the local, automotive and business press, it | | | | technology with a 40-year-old Microbus. It |
| earned an Award of Distinction in the | | | | didn't take long for the reporters to pick up |
| contest's Publicity Campaign category. | | | | on the inherent 'coolness' factor surrounding |
| | | | the vehicle." |
| The Chameleon, a retrofitted 1964 Volkswagen | | | | |
| Deluxe Microbus, was conceived at | | | | The press debut was held in the Volkswagen of |
| Volkswagen's Electronics Research Lab (ERL) | | | | America Collection, at their Auburn Hills |
| in Palo Alto, Calif. The goal of ERL was to | | | | headquarters. The event was co-hosted by |
| preserve the classic look of the iconic | | | | lighting supplier OSRAM, who provided |
| Microbus, while enhancing it with the latest | | | | state-of-the-art, light emitting diodes (LED) |
| advancements in audio, speech, sensors, | | | | technology to the vehicle's interior and |
| displays, navigation, lighting, batteries and | | | | exterior systems, including the headlamps and |
| solar cells (surfboards atop of the vehicle | | | | other VW parts. |