German Model Maker to Revive Trabant in 2009?

Toy companies are no strangers to designing their own cars (Hot Wheels’ Deora, anyone?), but one German model maker may take things to a new scale. Herpa Miniaturmodelle, based in Dietenhofen, has designed their interpretation of a modern Trabant - that infamous East German econobox - and may push it into limited production.

Originally shown as a conceptual design in 2007, the model maker has since formed a partnership with IndiKar, a Saxony-based automotive supplier, to move their Trabant dream into reality. Herpa’s since bought the rights surrounding the Trabant marque and plans on actually moving the car into production. Although assembly would likely be handled by an outside firm, Herpa still plans on controlling the NewTrabi’s marketing and physical design.

A full-sized concept, which may use powertrain purchased from BMW, is slated to appear at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Production plans are still up in the air; if the NewTrabi does enter series production, up to 5000 examples could be built annually. More certain is the production of NewTrabi models; Herpa will begin producing 1/87th scale replicas in February.

+Deutsche Welle: German Firm Plans to Launch Revamped Trabant