By Peter Ciani
Editor – RPM News Weekly
There’s been a lot of buzz about the Volkswagen I.D Buzz in the automotive press and on social media over the last few years. Now, the long-awaited all-electric family transporter finally makes the move from concept car to production ready show car at the 2022 New York International Auto Show.
Photo by Peter Ciani for RPM News Weekly
It’s no big secret that Volkswagen has been aiming to up its EV game, especially after the company’s embarrassing Dieselgate scandal. Just since 2015, the company has debuted numerous EV concepts, some pretty wild – like the ID. BUGGY, a modern day revival of the 1960’s favorite Manx dune buggy. And, some more grounded – like the sleek ID. VIZZION sports-sedan. Even so, long before the diesel controversy Volkswagen had been floating the idea of bringing back the classic VW Bus. That journey started with the Microbus concept shown at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show.
Although the Microbus concept was gas-powered, it pretty much laid the groundwork for the VW van’s long road to return, and would soon be followed by multiple concepts including the all-electric Bulli in 2005, the post Dieselgate era BUDD-e, and the current ID. BUZZ. Just considering that the idea for a modern VW bus has been around for so long without coming to fruition is astonishing, and while the concept has evolved a lot in 20 years the formula remains the same: tap into VW’s history while at the same time offering buyers a cool looking compact van with tons of versatility.
Photos courtesy of Volkswagen media.
It’s easy to understand why people might be skeptical of VW’s commitment to the ID. BUZZ. As noted, it has been over 20 years since they first started talking about it. Nevertheless, when spy shots of pre-production models out in the wild started turning up, I for one began to think, “Okay, maybe this time they will actually follow through with it.”
photo courtesy of Volkswagen media
Now we can put all of that waiting behind us. On April 15, Voklswagen will debut the production ready version for real and the public will finally get its chance to see the ID. BUZZ in the flesh… er, in the metal. Up until now, Volkswagen has released pictures of only the 5-passenger, 2-row version of the Buzz, but the U.S market will get a long wheelbase edition with three rows of seats.
While passenger versions of the ID. Buzz are cool, what I’m actually interested in is the ID. Cargo, which as the name suggests, is the commercial version of the ID. Buzz that’s aimed for businesses needing a compact, all-electric delivery vehicle.
Sadly, word on the street is that we won’t see the cargo version here in the United States. That’s a shame. Last-Mile-Delivery is a prime space for EVs. Eliminating fleets of ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles from the LMD market will provide a tremendous benefit to worldwide efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Think of all the delivery vehicles idling and slow-rolling through your neighborhood. Now think how wonderful it would be if they were all quiet and emissions free.
In any case, here at RPM News Weekly, we are looking forward to experiencing the ID. Buzz in person, and hopefully Volkswagen plans to show the long wheelbase model. For the time being, Volkswagen has taken the production design out from under lock and key, so if you can’t make it to NYC for the Auto Show, check out the digital world premiere online.
Volkswagen: Rebirth of an Icon Video
QUICK FACTS – ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo
European models
ID. Buzz (five-seater)
ID. Buzz Cargo (van, three seats in the front)
Important anticipated dates
Start of European ID. Buzz Cargo production: first half of 2022
Start of European ID. Buzz production: first half of 2022
European launch (initial countries): third quarter of 2022
Start of advance sales in Europe (initial countries): May 2022
North American debut of long wheelbase: 2023
North American sales launch: 2024
Technical platform
Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB)
External dimensions
Width excluding wing mirrors: 1,985 mm (78.1 in)
Height:
ID. Buzz: 1937 mm (76.3 in)
ID. Buzz Cargo: 1,938 mm (76.3 in)
Length: 4,712 mm (185.5 in)
Wheelbase: 2,988 mm (117.6 in)
Load sill:
ID. Buzz: 619 mm (24.4 in)
ID. Buzz Cargo: 623 mm (24.5 in)
Cargo space
ID. Buzz: up to 1,121 liters (39.6 cu ft)
ID. Buzz Cargo: 3.9 cubic meters (137.7 cu ft), room for two euro pallets
Drive system
Type: all-electric rear-wheel drive
Max. power: 150 kW (201 horsepower)
Max. torque: 310 Nm (229 lb-ft)
Battery capacity: 82 kWh gross, 77 kWh net
AC charging power (alternating current): 11 kWh
DC charging power (direct current) at fast-charging stations: up to 170 kWh
Driving performance and turning circle
Top speed: 145 km/h, electronically limited (90 mph)
Driving range: to follow at a later date
Turning circle: just over 11 meters (36.4 ft)
Sustainability
Zero-tailpipe emission electric drive system
Leather replaced by non-animal material
Use of partial recycled materials in seat covers, floor coverings, roof liner
Production site
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ main plant in Hannover, Germany
Colors
Non-metallic: ‘Candy White’
Metallic: ‘Mono Silver’, ‘Lime Yellow’, ‘Starlight Blue’, ‘Energetic Orange’ and ‘Bay Leaf Green’
Pearl-effect: ‘Deep Black’
Two-tone: ‘Candy White’ in combination with ‘Lime Yellow’, ‘Starlight Blue’, ‘Energetic Orange’ or ‘Bay Leaf Green’
