A new all-electric microbus – the Volkswagen ID. Buzz – officially debuts on March 9, and goes into series production in the first half of this year. It will be available in several large markets.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is now undergoing its final tests before putting it into production. The pre-production fleet is touring Europe. The date of the official premiere is set: it is March 9, 2022.
Afterward, its launch in Europe will be in the fall, with two versions to be available – a passenger ID. Buzz 5-seater and a Buzz Cargo 3-seater van. A variant with a longer wheelbase and a broader range of in-cabin possibilities will be added too. The model will also enter the North American market, at least the USA, where it already has a fanbase.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz inherits design elements of the legendary T1, the original ‘Bus. This is about very short body overhangs, upper and lower levels of the body design, a V-shaped face, rear-wheel drive, maximum utilization of space.
The last feature is a serious advantage. The five-seater, for example, takes up to 39.6 cubic feet (1,121 l) of luggage even with all seats occupied. The maximum load capacity of the cargo van, which has a partition behind the front seats, is more than 5.1 cubic yards (3.9 m3).
The new model is based on the electric MEB platform, uses a floor-mounted, high-voltage lithium-ion battery with 82-kWh (77kWh net) capacity. An integrated 150-kW (201-hp) electric motor drives the rear axle. The maximum torque is 310 Nm (229 lb-ft). The electronically limited top speed is 145 km/h (90 mph). Official range figures will follow.
The vehicle has a very low center of gravity; its turning circle is over 35 feet only. The wheels range from 18 to 21 inches. The standard wheelbase is 117.6 inches (2,988 mm). Dimensions of the standard ID. Buzz are 185.5 inches (4,712 mm) long, 76.3 inches (1,937 mm) tall, 78.1 inches (1,985 mm) wide.
Other advantages of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz are over-the-air updates, innovative assist systems (Trained Parking, Car2X, Travel Assist), and a ‘Plug & Charge’ clever function through which the vehicle authenticates itself at quick-charging stations of many providers. A function of bi-directional charging with the ability to store excess power from a home’s solar panels will eventually join.
Source: Volkswagen
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