After nearly 75 years since the first Volkswagen Type 2 came off, the Microbus is back. VW is bringing back the iconic van, but this time as a fully electric vehicle as ID Buzz.
VW executives took to the livestreaming stage ahead of the start of SXSW 2022 to show off the ID.Buzz, which will be offered this year as a people mover and a cargo van (named the ID.Buzz Cargo). The ID.Buzz will be available in Europe first, in 2022, and will include a number of features that their American-market counterparts would not, such as short-wheelbase and commercial-grade variations. There’s also a Level 4 self-driving version that will debut in Hamburg in 2025 as part of the Shared Riding Model pilot programme.
American Users Will Get Stylish Version of ID.Buzz
Volkswagen only showed the European model, but Keogh said the US version will be “more customized for the American audience,” adding that he had “no doubt it will be worth the wait,” and teased a California camper edition.
The US model will have a slightly longer wheelbase and three rows of seating, compared to two in the European model. The European model’s turning radius is a mere 11 metres, similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Volkswagen Golf, thanks to its shorter wheelbase.
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The ID.Buzz is based on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix, and it is the platform’s largest model to date. Ford plans to adopt the ID.Buzz platform for one of its European market vehicles in 2023.
ID.Buzz Battery
The ID.buzz will have a 77-kWh battery pack with a 170 kw charging capacity powering a 150 kw rear motor (slightly less than the 82-kWh pack in the ID.4, which is also MEB-based). At least in the European version, it will be susceptible of bidirectional charging, allowing V2H (vehicle-to-home) energy transfers.
The passenger model will seat five people and have a cargo capacity of 1.21 cubic metres (39.5 cubic feet), while the freight model will have a cargo capacity of 3.9 cubic metres (137.7 cubic feet) thanks to the removal of the rear seats and the addition of a partition behind the front row.
ID.Buzz Colour Combination
VW designers drew inspiration for the interior from the Microbus’ aesthetics, incorporating style elements from the T1 generation of vehicle and matching seat cushions, dash panels, and door trim to the vehicle’s exterior paint colour, which will be available in seven solid colours and four two-tone schemes (white + another colour).
The European version of the ID.Buzz featured a number of impressive self-driving features, including Active Lane-Change Assist and Park Assist Plus, as well as V2X data sharing, which means the ID.Buzz can share road hazard information with both nearby enabled vehicles and traffic infrastructure. On the Buzz, OTA updates will be standard as well.
The Cargo variant will include a variety of options, such as bench or bucket seats, a tailgate vs twin swing-out rear doors vs double sliding side doors, and a tailgate vs twin swing-out rear doors vs double sliding side doors. In addition, VW will offer a variety of modification options for the Buzz, allowing service providers of all stripes to tailor the vehicle to their unique requirements. The Cargo has a carrying capacity of up to 600 kilogrammes of cargo inside and another 100 kg of gear fastened to its roof.
