VW’s latest iteration of its microbus has created quite a ‘buzz’ after it was announced at the Pebble Beach that it would go into production by 2022. While the styling of the ID Buzz evokes the legendary 1949 Type 2 van, the machine is built around the latest technology on Volkswagen’s new all-electric architecture. It will also feature Level-3 autonomous driving capabilities, meaning it will be able to drive itself with human supervision.
The all-wheel-drive concept version is powered by two electric motors with an output of 150kW. One motor will be placed in the nose section while the other will be fitted on the rear axle, producing a total output of 374bhp. Torque is distributed between the two motors through an electric propshaft, and it can hit 100 kmph from rest in less than 5sec. Top speed is limited to 160 kmph.
The ID Buzz will be capable of autonomous driving and will come fitted with VW’s ID Pilot autonomous driving system. The concept version features a steering wheel that retracts and decouples from the steering system when the ID Buzz is switched into its fully autonomous mode.
The Microbus has always been an icon just like the Beetle and has long been part of the California lifestyle and now VW plans to bring it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle.
