At the Detroit Show in early 2017, Volkswagen showed the I.D. Buzz concept car, a fully electric vehicle that taps in to the spirit and vibe that made the VW Microbus such an iconic vehicle — whether with hippies and families in the 60s, or surfer dudes and van lifers today.
Within the framework of further development, Volkswagen has also set a launch date for the I.D. Buzz. The vehicle will arrive at dealerships in 2022, after the compact four-door I.D. makes its debut. With the I.D. Buzz, Volkswagen is mainly targeting markets in North America, Europe and China.
Just like the concept car shown in Detroit, the production model will also have its batteries mounted in the vehicle floor. Because the electric drive components — electric motor, power electronics, and such —don’t take up much space, the vehicle has a long wheelbase with short overhangs, allowing for a massively spacious interior and great proportions.
The production I.D. Buzz won’t just be a passenger vehicle. Just like the classic T2, there’ll be a cargo variant that will haul both people and freight.
Although Volkswagen’s oldest and newest Microbuses will be separated by more than seven decades when the new model is launched in 2022, the I.D. Buzz undoubtedly has the original’s genes, as it offers maximum utilisation of space on the footprint of a mid-size passenger car. Based on the new all-electric architecture, the production version of the I.D. Buzz will incorporate many design ideas from the concept car, including multi-variable seating, interactive connectivity and highly automated driving.
Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess commented, “After the presentations at the global motor shows in Detroit and Geneva, we received a large number of letters and emails from customers who said ‘please build this car’.”
Read more about the VW I.D. Buzz concept car.