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Volkswagen’s iconic Type 2, the nostalgic camper of hippies, surfers and cross-country skiers, is returning to the US as an electric vehicle.
Renamed the ‘ID Buzz’, the new VW bus promises to have more storage space and power than its cousins abroad: three rows of seats compared to the European two-row model and a 91kWh battery pack instead of the battery of 82 kWh in the EU version.
For sheer show off, the American style VW decal on the Buzz glows with its headlights, very likely the biggest illuminated logo of anything on the road.
VW unveiled the American three-row ID Buzz in California today – but any nostalgic eco-conscious hippies looking to get their hands on one will have to wait until the van officially hits the milestone in 2024. In the meantime, here’s what else to expect from the American variants of VW’s new throwback EV.
Renamed the ‘ID Buzz’, the new VW bus promises to have more storage space and power than its cousins abroad: three rows of seats compared to the European two-row model and a 91kWh battery pack instead of the battery of 82 kWh in the EU version (all images supplied by Volkswagen)
The US version of the ID Buzz (above with its mid-century inspiration) is all-electric and carbon neutral. The 91 kWh battery reaches a range of over 400 km before it needs to be recharged
The eco-friendly car is made from recycled synthetic material and the interior is completely free of genuine leather – making it completely ‘pet-free’, but still giving it a luxurious, ‘lounge-like’ feel.
Autonomous functions include the ‘Car2X’, which uses signals from other vehicles and the transport infrastructure to recognize hazards in real time, and ‘Memory Function’ for automatic parking on a previously saved route.
Volkswagen believes the van will be part of “the future of inner-city transportation,” where rides are shared by multiple passengers in vehicles praised by apps.
ID Buzz was first shown in concept form at the 2017 Detroit auto show, with a promise of going on sale in 2022 – a date Volkswagen actually delivered on.
Pricing for the US model expected in 2024 has yet to be officially confirmed, though it will reportedly start in the region of $50,000. according to Kelley Blue Book.
Volkswagen has also announced a second version of the model, called ID Buzz Cargo in European markets, which will accommodate two Euro pallets for heavier loads. ID Buzz Cargo isn’t coming until 2025 and could cost £50,000.
“The ID Buzz is a true icon for the electric age – a car that only Volkswagen can build,” said Ralf Brandstätter, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
Pricing is not yet official for the US model, though it’s estimated to start in the $50,000 region, according to Kelley Blue Book. Other estimates suggest an MSRP of $40,000
In typical American style, the US ID Buzz features a new 12.9-inch screen in all models, compared to the EU version’s 10-inch or 12-inch touchscreen options
With five people on board, there is room for approximately 39.6 cubic feet (1,121 liters) of luggage, but when the second row seats are folded down, the capacity increases to 77.8 cubic feet (2,205 liters)
‘In the 1950s the Volkswagen Bulli [as the VW Bus is called in Germany] stood for a new sense of car freedom, independence and great emotion.
“The ID Buzz picks up on this lifestyle and translates it to our times – zero emissions, sustainable, fully networked and now ready for the next big chapter: autonomous driving.”
ID Buzz has an ‘iconic front’, according to Volkswagen, with its V-shaped front plate between ‘charismatic’ LED headlights and two-tone paintwork.
With five people on board, there is room for approximately 39.6 cubic feet (1,121 liters) of luggage, but when the second row seats are folded down, this cargo capacity increases to 77.8 cubic feet (2,205 liters).
ID Buzz is fully electric, making it carbon neutral, and has a built-in 91 kWh battery, which should reach a range of over 400 kilometers before drivers need to recharge.
Charging 170 kW also means that the vehicle’s battery can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in 30 minutes.
ID Buzz and ID Buzz Cargo are zero-emission vehicles, which the company says allow owners to “meet the climatic challenges of our time.”
The VW decal on the American-style Buzz (left) glows with its headlights, most likely the largest illuminated logo of anything on the road. A new panoramic sunroof on the ID Buzz (right) transitions from clear to opaque thanks to new ‘electrochrome tinted’ glass
In typical American style, the US ID Buzz features a new 12.9-inch screen on all models, compared to the EU version’s 10-inch or 12-inch touchscreen options.
The display, next to the driver’s field of vision, provides information such as the current speed and the remaining range of the electric battery.
ID Buzz also has something called “bidirectional charging,” which allows users to take energy from car batteries and feed it back into the grid to offset peaks in electricity demand.
In other words, it allows electric cars to be used as temporary energy reserves, potentially charging your TV and kitchen appliances for you.