The electric rebirth of one of Volkswagen’s best-known and biggest-selling vehicles will show that “people who love cars” work at the company, said CEO Ralf Brandstätter.
The ID Buzz van, a retrofuturistic reimagining of the original Type 2, will be revealed on 9 March as the latest entry into the rapidly expanding family of MEB-based EVs.
Brandstätter said that it will be “definitely the most emotional of our electric models” and will play a key role in Volkswagen’s push to become “the most desirable brand for sustainable mobility”.
The largest ID-badged EV will use the same MEB platform as the ID 3 hatchback and ID 4 and ID 5 SUVs, and it will be the first in the line-up to be available in passenger-carrying and commercial forms.
In an attempt to give it the same flexibility of purpose that defined the Type 2, it will also be offered in California camper van form – although it remains unclear whether Volkswagen will fit out this variant itself or leave that to third-party contractors, as was the case with the earlier Type 2.
Previews of the ID Buzz reveal styling that stays largely true to the well-received concept from 2017, albeit slightly more straight-edged to maximise interior space, with a minimalist frontend design that links it to other ID models and various cues nodding to its predecessors.
It will be built in standard and long-wheelbase formats alongside the new ICE-powered Multivan at Volkswagen’s plant in Hanover, Germany.
It is expected to offer the same array of batteries and rear- and four-wheel-drive powertrains as other MEB EVs, showing “how flexible and versatile our modular electric drive system is”, said Brandstätter.
The concept’s 369bhp 4WD set-up is likely to be toned down for the range-topper, however, to equal the ID 4 GTX’s 295bhp.
ID Buzz begins Volkswagen’s ‘fun EV’ roll-out
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VW has lost the plot in its misguided ambition to become Tesla.
The iD models are truly awful and history will remember them as the beginning of the end for the German giant.
I don't want to take on a second mortgage for a van or any car.
As much as I'd like an EV, especially a practical multi-seat MPV, the price these vehicles sell for (or will sell for) makes them an absolute waste of money for my circumstances even on finance, which has been used to great effect by manufacturers to allow these list prices to get way out of hand.
At the levels car prices have got to now, there's no way of justifying a new car over things that take higher priority to most people like expensive home improvements or house moves.
Well done car makers for making a totally unsustainable situation regarding car pricing.
Given the price of the current California, this will be over £80k. Or tiny. Or both.
I'm also unconvinced of the longevity of the batteries in these - how well they'll managed being left parked up for 3-4 months over winter with depleting batteries in sub-zero conditions. The other side of this is actual lifespan for the batteries - buy a petrol/diesel California and you can use it for 30 years and likely still be running well at the end of it. What's the cost of a battery swap in one of these every 10-12 years?
Whilst I agree about the insane prices, the manufacturers wouldn't pitch them at that price if there was not a market for them. And you can hardly blame the manufacturers when gov legislation is banning tried and tested technology. And then there are the laws being brought in that requirescars to have such advanced ( and I'd argue unnecessary ) tech.
If people like you ( and me ) no longer buy the products, then prices will drop. The advice to anyone who complains about increased prices, vote with your feet, just stop buying cars.