() — It seems that the United States needs more seats in its cars. When Volkswagen introduced the ID. Buzz, a retro-style electric van, noted that the North American-market version would be longer and have three rows of seats.
And now, the North American version of the ID. Buzz was officially unveiled. As promised, it is almost half a meter longer than the two-row model. However, it is not huge. At 15-feet, front to back, it’s about 4 inches shorter than a Chrysler Pacifica MPV, but still seats seven.
The ID. Buzz is designed to remind the Volkswagen T1, the Combi or the Transporter. This iconic model was introduced in 1949 and is better known as the Microbus, or simply the VW Bus. In the United States it was associated with the hippie movement, but this minivan also served as transportation for large families long before Chrysler invented the front-wheel drive minivan, in the 80’s.
In North America, Volkswagen will offer a long-wheelbase version of the VW ID. Buzz with three rows of seats. (Credit: Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
Like the original Bus, the basic version of the ID. Buzz will be rear-wheel drive, with power coming from a rear-mounted engine. This time it’s a quiet electric motor instead of a noisy gasoline engine.
It is also much more powerful and faster.
The electric motor is capable of producing 282 hp, more than 10 times the power of an early VW Bus. The new ID. Buzz will also be available with four-wheel drive, with a total of 330 hp coming from two electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear.
The all-wheel drive version has a top speed of 99 miles per hour (159.3 km/h), while the rear-wheel drive van can hit 90 miles per hour (145 km/h).
The interior of the VW ID. Buzz features a 13-inch center touchscreen and removable storage console. (CREDIT: Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
More comfortable and luxurious than its counterculture predecessor, the ID. Buzz has power sliding doors to access the rear from both sides. It also has small power windows located inside the large glass windows in the side doors. A power tailgate is also standard. Inside, a removable center storage console has dividers that can be pulled out and used as an ice scraper and bottle opener.
The author on his mother’s lap in a family photo taken around 1966. (Credit: Marjorie Smith/Courtesy of the Valdés-Dapena family)
The second row seats of the ID. Buzz slide forward for easy access to the third row and can be folded down to accommodate bulky cargo. The third row of seats can be completely removed.
As in other ID models. from VW, a strip of lights that runs along the dashboard provides useful indications to the driver. It flashes to indicate the vehicle is ready to go and may flash to one side or the other to signal a suggested turn. It also flashes if the anti-collision system indicates that urgent braking is necessary.
According to VW, the original ID Bus VW was introduced as a complement to the Volkswagen Beetle, but “became a worldwide bestseller already in its first generation”. By 1967, 1.8 million had been made.
Like the original VW Microbus, the base two-wheel drive versions of the ID. Buzz are rear wheel drive. (Credit: Volkswagen of America, Inc.)
The classic Microbus has become a favorite with collectors. Very well-preserved versions have sold for six-figure sums. The most valuable Hot Wheels car in the world, valued at $150,000, is a small Microbus.
The new ID. Buzz will also be available in Europe, alongside the short-wheelbase version that launched there last fall. The ID. Buzz will go on sale in the US next year. Pricing will be announced later, but is expected to be around $40,000.
