The famous VW microbus is making a comeback as an electric vehicle (EV).
The VW ID.Buzz has been a rumor for years. Most recent reports suggest it will reach our shores as a 2024 model, going on sale sometime in 2023. Volkswagen hasn’t made the date official, but they have confirmed that the new model is coming stateside. And they have published photos.
The publicity shots were added to a presentation this week on another EV, the ID.5, which won’t be coming to America.
They show the ID.Buzz wrapped in colorful camouflage to disguise a few key details. But they reveal enough for us to see that the classic tall-and-narrow proportions of the microbus haven’t quite melded with modern design standards. But the shape is probably as close as VW designers could get while still accommodating modern safety equipment.
We’d still love to see round headlights flanking the big VW emblem.
It rides on the same platform as the 2022 VW ID.4 EV, which should allow VW to produce rear- and all-wheel-drive variants. The ID.4 starts at $39,995, plus a $1,195 destination fee.
The classic microbus kept its engine in the rear. Like most EVs, the ID.Buzz will keep almost all of the moving parts beneath the floorboards. That should allow designers to maximize interior space.
Earlier design studies have shown a living-room-style passenger layout with captain’s chairs facing a rear bench, with a console between them like a small coffee table.
