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The rebirth of Volkswagen's iconic van, with a modern, all-electric twist concludes next week after a long gestation. The first ID. Buzz style concept was shown at the 2017 North American International Auto Show and has undergone significant engineering and design processes in its evolution to production.
Next Wednesday, VW will show off five-seater and cargo versions of the van. Ahead of that, the automaker released a final teaser video. Volkswagen's commercial arm is currently completing the final phase of testing in Europe.
The new ID. Buzz rides on VW's proven MEB platform, which is the base for the Audi E-tron vehicles and the rest of VW's ID lineup. It will come with an 82-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack good for 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. Top speed is a brisk 90 mph.
The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are only slightly larger than the European T6 VW van, which the continent continued to get after it was canceled in the U.S. in the '90s.
The updated proportions mean that the new van can use smaller parking spaces and has a tighter turning radius than its predecessor. It also has far more cargo space than previous VW vans.
The styling is classic VW with short overhangs and a stubby nose with a V-shaped face. It's been seen in several colors and paint schemes, including the rainbow version in teaser images and video, but VW will have traditional colors available when it comes to market.
The reveal of the rear-drive Buzz that's happening next week will mark 50 years since the company showed off a prototype of its T2 at the 1972 Hannover Trade Fair. Besides the shape, the two busses share something else. That prototype sported a rear electric motor. That early bus only had a range of 53 miles, far less than the 250 or so that the new bus will get.
About the writer
Jake Lingeman is a Newsweek Autos managing editor based in Detroit. His focus is reporting on the auto industry. He has covered ... Read more