Volkswagen reboots its groovy 60s-era VW Bus. This time it's faster, roomier and electric
By: Peter Valdes-Dapena CNN
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Volkswagen reboots its groovy 60s-era VW Bus. This time it's faster, roomier and electric
In North America, Volkswagen will offer a long-wheelbase version of the VW ID. Buzz with three rows of seats. (Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
America apparently needs more car seats. So, when Volkswagen unveiled the ID. Buzz, a retro-styled electric van, last year, it noted that the version for the North American market would be longer and would have three rows of seats.
North America’s version of the ID. Buzz has now officially been revealed. “Designed and tailor-made for the North American consumer,” in the words of Volkswagen of America chief executive Paolo Di Si, this version is near 10 inches longer than the two-row model. It’s still not huge, though. At 194.4 inches, front to back, it’s about 10 inches shorter than a Chrysler Pacifica minivan, but can still seat up to seven.
The two-row version and a commercial van version available in Europe will not be sold here, Di Si confirmed.
The ID. Buzz is designed to recall the Volkswagen T1, or Transporter. That iconic model was introduced in 1949 and is better known as the Microbus, or just the VW Bus. In America, it became associated with the Hippie movement, but the Bus also provided transportation for large families long before the front-wheel-drive minivan was invented by Chrysler in the 1980s.
The ID. Buzz is expected to be available in this market in late 2024. Like the original Bus, the base version of the ID. Buzz will be rear-wheel-drive, with power coming from a motor mounted in the back. This time it’s a quiet electric motor rather than a noisy gasoline engine.
It’s also far more powerful, and faster.
The electric motor is capable of producing 282 horsepower, more than 10 times the horsepower of an early VW Bus. The new ID. Buzz will also be available with all-wheel-drive, with a total of up to 330 horsepower coming from two electric motors, one at the front and one at the back.
The all-wheel-drive version has a top speed of 99 miles per hour, while the rear-wheel-drive van can reach 90 miles an hour.
More convenient and luxurious than its counterculture elder, the ID. Buzz has power-sliding doors to access the back on both sides. It also has small inset power-opening windows located within the big glass windows in the side doors. A power tailgate in back is also standard. Inside, a removable centre storage console has dividers that can be taken out and used as an ice scraper and a bottle opener.
The interior of the VW ID. Buzz has a 13-inch center touchscreen and a removable storage console. (Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
The ID. Buzz’s second-row seats slide forward to allow easier access to the third row and can fold down to allow for large cargo. The third row of seats can be removed altogether.
As in other VW ID. models, a light strip that runs across the dashboard provides helpful cues to the driver. It pulses to indicate the vehicle is ready to drive and can pulse toward one side or the other to signal a suggested turn. It also flashes if the collision avoidance system indicates urgent braking is needed.
According to VW, the original VW bus was introduced to supplement the Volkswagen Beetle, but “became a worldwide bestseller already in its first generation.” By 1967, 1.8 million had been manufactured.
The classic Microbus has become a favourite among collectors. Nicely kept versions have sold for six-figure sums . The world’s most valuable Hot Wheels car, worth as much as US$150,000, is a tiny Microbus.
The new long-wheelbase ID. Buzz will be available in Europe, as well, along with the short-wheelbase version which was launched there last fall. The ID. Buzz will go on sale in the U.S. next year. Prices will be announced closer to when the van becomes available, but are expected to start around US$40,000.
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Should I sue? I would gladly settle for one of those vehicles, even though I really don't need that many seats any more.
I have used at least two movies that use the iconic classic VW bus on my quizzes. Can anyone name the movies?
Okay since none of my quiz lovers have replied - Flashback and Little Miss Sunshine.
I don't think that is made for your run of the mill hippie. Haha
Why not? All it needs is a psychedelic paint job.
Used my 60s era microbus to haul band equipment but blew two engines before I wised up and got rid of it. Just not enough engine for the job.
I don't think the original version was problem-free.
those things were a road hazard in the colorado mountains. we called them struggle bugs. they could barely make the speed limit going downhill. speed bumps and signs were the only things on the road they could pass.
I don't think this new one will have those problems.
Back to the future.
Or forward to the past.
You cant go home again. There have been many large SUV's since then.
Maybe so, but have any of them become iconic?
Since it showed the new dashboard I looked them up for comparison.
This was the dashboard on the original version?
It said a 1968 Volkswagen van.
Said this is 67
To me the 1967 dashboard is cleaner and more modern that the 1968 one.
I don't think I have ever been in one.
Our thing was the old chevy vans.
I've never been in one either, nor did I even know anyone who had one.
Making love in my Chevy van and that's alright with me....
Was it a Corvair? When I was a kid we had a 63 Corvair bus.
The 67 and earlier cab was cramped compared to the much roomier 68 and later buses. The 67 dash was steel and the 68 was vinyl covered foam on a steel frame, this change was to meet safety standards. Since I used to work in a shop that specialized in air cooled German Cars I've driven them many times and I love to drive 68 or later buses and owned a few but I don't enjoy driving earlier buses or any bugs, I just don't fit well.
Wow! It's great to get a little personal history about it.
Bet the Corvair was more expensive so it wouldn't have been a hippimobile.
I love this van. I wish it was around when I was a softball mom.
my first vehicle was a '57 GMC panel truck. whenever I pulled up in that to pick up a date, 99% of the time my date's daddy offered to let me take his car. like that mattered...
LOL. Got my first laugh of the morning.
I never liked it particularly before, but I do like this updated version.