Image by Matti Blume – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62464686
The iconic VW Bus is back! It is called the I.D. Buzz. VW enthusiasts around the world are anxiously awaiting its arrival! The original Type 2 was released to the market in 1950 and is known to its adoring fans as the VW “Bus”, “Microbus”, “Kombi”, “Transporter”, “Camper” and a slew of other informal nicknames.
Classic VW collectors know that the first generation are the most sought after. They were built from 1950-1967 and are easy to identify with the split front windshields. The second generation lacks a little in the cool factor and the post Type 2 generations morphed into transporter vans, like the VW T6, that are still in production today.
Fast Forward to 2022 and Volkswagen has promised the I.D. Buzz will be rolling out of dealerships. It may not be exactly like the current concept, but hopefully it will contain a lot of the current technology. First off, the microbus is completely self-driving. There is a tablet used as a screen for the center console and it can be removed and taken with you to use as a portable device.
One of the cooler features of the concept bus is the use of cameras for side view mirrors. You will be able to view those cameras from a very spacious interior. The new microbus will be equipped with a seating system that is installed on rails and allows for different seating arrangements and positions.
Making it all move is a 111-kWh battery pack. On a full charge, Volkswagen claims it can travel 270 miles before needing to be re-charged. It is also reported that a 30-minute charge can restore 80% of the battery power.
Performance in the new buss will certainly be increased in comparison to the original Type 2. Have you ever had to drive up a hill behind one of the originals? It certainly isn’t quick, but that has all changed. The concept bus is currently able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in only 5 seconds! That is one quick bus! It also can reach top speeds of 99mph. That is plenty fast.
While Volkswagen hasn’t released the technical specs of the production version, it likely will not have all the bells and whistles as the concept version, but VW bus enthusiasts are still anxiously awaiting the re-birth of one of the most iconic classics around.
Check out this sneak peek video that gives a glimpse of the all new I.D. Buzz (VW Bus)