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The latest edition of what VW wants to add to the market has presented itself earlier in the year with the I.D. Buzz concept that showed off the new electric platform that VW wants to use. This vehicle resembled the old VW Microbus that we loved for many years in the days of the “hippie vans” and lovable road trips of the 1960s and 1970s. Little did we know when this vehicle crossed the stage that it might actually become a reality later in the future, but that appears to be the direction that VW is headed.
The Microbus is Back
For those of us old enough to see fashion trends roll full circle and come back in style, the variety of advanced technology and safety required in the market today would have us thinking there was no way a vehicle with the short overhangs of the Microbus would ever come back. If VW were to produce this vehicle with a typical internal combustion engine, it wouldn’t resemble the Microbus of old at all, but the new MEB platform that VW is going to use for the new I.D. Buzz is perfect to make it possible for this vehicle to be offered.
With the use of this platform, the Buzz will be able to meet or exceed all safety standards and even be one of the safest models on the market when it arrives in 2022. Currently, this is the second vehicle planned for this new platform of VW, with the I.D. hatchback being offered by the 2020 model year. If you’ve been waiting for the vehicle that you loved to carry your surfboards, take you camping or just drive around on the roads during a lazy and long road trip, the Microbus is back in the form of the I.D. Buzz.
How Does the Platform Work?
Much like the layout that Tesla offers, Volkswagen will integrate the battery into the floor pan and there will be electric motors at both the front and rear axles. This will allow the I.D. Buzz to offer an optional AWD setup that can be enjoyed and have the benefit of the build that is recognizable. In addition to being built in a shape that resembles the original, the Buzz should offer reconfigurable seating, which was shown in the concept that was on the stage at the CES show.
This new vehicle isn’t just a way to bring back a nostalgic looking model but is also going to offer you the Level 3 autonomous driving technology. This isn’t full autonomy and will require a driver, but it will be able to take over the steering, braking, and acceleration under some road conditions. The excitement has begun and those who enjoyed this vehicle in its original form just might be the same crowd that lines up to have this new EV version of the VW Microbus when it arrives in 2022 in the form of the new I.D. Buzz.
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