Volkswagen Is Relaunching The Iconic Minibus In 2022, Electrified For The Future
Perhaps one of the most iconic Volkswagen vehicles is its microbus. The Type 2, or the Transporter, harks back to the fondly-remembered 1960s era of the hippie with its iconic design and striking color palette.
It may have faded off our roads decades ago, but it’s not to say that it’ll never come back. In 2017, the German car manufacturers first unveiled the ID.BUZZ, a new electrified version of the signature microbus.
This comes with a high-tech cockpit and “roomy” interior for up to seven people, a rather far cry from its 1950 beginnings. A 111 kWh battery pack gives it almost 300 miles of estimated range, while VW fast-charging will allow it to recharge about 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes.
Ever since then, it’s been treated as a fun concept EV. A “what if…?” scenario, more than plans for production. But now, it’s looking like it might just become a reality.
Herbert Diess, the CEO of Volkswagen, has confirmed that the “legend” will return: the ID.BUZZ will launch this year on March 9.
The legend returns on 03/09/22! pic.twitter.com/Q4hFyCN5mr
— Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) January 6, 2022
Further development could see the vehicle being operated autonomously via the ‘I.D. Pilot’ mode that’s planned for 2025, hence its fold-away steering wheel and luxurious entertainment system. Talk about the revival and rebirth of an icon.
“This is something only Volkswagen can do in such an iconic way,” Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen Design, shares in a news release from early 2017.
“Our aim was to come up with something that’s likeable, which would touch the heritage of the brand.”
Compared to other EV concepts, “our solution,” he continued, “is cool.” He recalls how the original microbus “was always a freedom machine, always about being independent.”
“With the huge range, the car will allow us to go new places.”
Electrek has noted that a few sightings of the ID.BUZZ have occurred “in the wild,” although these appeared to have been camouflaged so as not to give away any spoilers.
[via Electrek and Engadget, images via Volkswagen]
