Electric Volkswagen ID Buzz Due In 2022

The Volkswagen Microbus is an iconic vehicle that just oozes beach vibes. Here in California, it is synonymous with surfing and the ’60s and has a cult following even to this day. For that reason, it was impactful that VW CEO Dr. Herbert Diess chose California as the place to announce the return of the VW Minibus. He related as much to the crowd in Pebble Beach, California. “The Microbus has long been part of the California lifestyle. Now we’re bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle.”

Dubbed the Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ, the new Minibus will be fully electric and will carry forward a lot of the cool design cues from the original, but into the modern age. VW believes that the form factor makes for a great platform for all sorts of bespoke options, much like the Ford Transit and similar vehicles. VW announced explicit intentions to move into the transit space with a special version called the I.D. BUZZ CARGO that will allow buyers several options for a transit-oriented version straight from dealerships.

As most major automotive manufacturers have announced plans for various levels of advanced vehicle autonomy in 2020 or 2021, the VW I.D. BUZZ would also make a great form factor for a fully autonomous local shuttle van. With VW’s focus on interpersonal communication and device-agnostic vehicle communication, it is not difficult to imagine the I.D. BUZZ as a feature packed autonomous shuttle that would suit the millennial lifestyle like a glove. VW shared that it will include Level 3 autonomous driving features, which is a step above what Tesla’s Autopilot solution offers in production today. But …

Before you get too excited about the VW I.D. BUZZ and run off to call your local dealer to put down a deposit, we have to talk dates. In all too unfortunately typical VW fashion, the VW I.D. BUZZ isn’t slated to make it to showrooms until a ghastly 2022. In electric vehicle terms, that’s an eternity away. Volvo will sell only electric versions of its vehicles by an impressive 2019 — though, in all likelihood, this only means they will be at least a hybrid, with likely options for plug-in hybrids and fully electric drivetrains on some models.

Source: VW

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Hyundai Mash Up Of The Volkswagen Camper And Tesla Model X

Hyundai has applied for a patent on a new design it might use to convert vans into campers. Back in the 60’s, Volkswagen invented the camper van when it made a tent-like pop up opening in the roof of its Microbus. Suddenly, camping was transformed all across America. For the first time, people could drive to the mountains, the deserts, or the oceans and then sleep in their vehicles when they got there.

No motel bills, no overpriced restaurant food. The VW camper liberated people to go do their own thing. It may have led directly to Woodstock, free love, and the total breakdown of the button down American society. Owning one was almost as good as moving to California and becoming a surfer.

Fast forward 50 years to the Tesla Model X. This iconic vehicle features falcon wing doors that are hinged at the top and the middle. Unlike gullwing doors on early Mercedes, DeLoreans and Bricklins, they only need a foot of clearance to open and close. They make getting in and out of the second and third row seats simple and efficient. The Model X is the VW camper all grown up and given a makeover by House Beautiful.

Hyundai has a different idea. Why not keep the sliding door that defines a modern minivan but hinge the entire side of the vehicle so it permits easy access to everything aft of the front seats? Imagine a screened in enclosure underneath a solid roof. It could be the next thing in camping for the 99%. When there isn’t enough room to raise the entire side panel, the traditional sliding door would still be there for use in close quarters.

According to the Korean automaker’s patent application, the camping market is growing, and it believes this idea would appeal to customers. “Camping has evolved from a level of just sleeping outdoors to include a step of taking a rest outdoors, and therefore, camping equipment has also continuously evolved,” Hyundai states in the application.

In the UK, there is a company that specializes in converting Hyundai vans into campers. Volkswagenalso offers a modern version of the camper van, complete with pop up tent roof, for Brits who are bitten by the outdoor bug. According to AutoBlog, Hyundai may be thinking about offering a similar vehicle in the American market. If so, it could do for today’s families what the VW camper did for them two generations ago.

Photo credits: Hyundai, Volkswagen

Electric Volkswagen Microbus On The Way?

Volkswagen is currently working on a new Microbus concept vehicle to be debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, according to recent reports.

Interestingly, the new vehicle may end up as a production vehicle available as an electric — in addition to availability as a gas- or diesel-powered version — if you give much heed to rumors anyways.

The concept’s power train is rumored to utilize a fair amount of the same hardware that is used in the Audi R8 e-tron, as well as the Audi e-tron quattro SUV concept — making for a pretty interesting-sounding offering, especially when taking into account the rumored 250–310 mile targeted range.

Presumably, the electric version would take a bit of a backseat to the gas and diesel versions, considering Volkswagen’s actions to date. That said, a diesel offering isn’t looking likely to be a good bet for the American market considering all of the issues that the company is currently having there with the country’s Environmental Protection Agency — so perhaps that’s more incentive to focus on the electric version?

(For those who haven’t heard, the US Environmental Protection Agency is fining Volkswagen up to $18 billion for the use of specially designed “defeat device” software intended to deceive regulators testing the emissions levels of some of its diesel vehicles. The software works by determining when a vehicle is being tested, as opposed to being put to normal use, and adjusts the vehicle’s emissions controls accordingly. In other words, the car is only clean enough to pass these EPA tests when it is actually being tested. The issue is relating to around 482,000 4-cylinder Volkswagen + Audi diesel cars sold in the country since 2008. German engineering at its finest I suppose, eh?)

Back to the Volkswagen Microbus: As far as the electric version goes, there wouldn’t be much competition in the American market, as Nissan has yet to release the e-NV200 there (though perhaps Nissan will get around to it soon). An electric van with good range to it would likely get quite a bit of interest, so hopefully this concept will make it to the production vehicle phase.

Nimbus e-Car Concept Wants To Be The New Microbus

The last Volkswagen Type 2 rolled off of a Brazilian assembly line less than three years ago, and so far the German automaker has yet to commit to a worthy 21st century replacement. That leaves an opening for a new kind of hippie van to fill the void left by the original Microbus, and the Nimbus e-Car may have what it takes, if it ever manages to become more than just a concept.

The Nimbus e-Car concept is powered by a 180 horsepower electric motor linked to a lithium-ion battery pack for zero-emissions urban commuting. Should a bout of wanderlust strike you though, a small gas generator can provide a much longer driving range. Liberal use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber and aluminum would make for a strong-but-svelte body. Of course this would also add substantially to the production costs and thus, the MSRP, but since this is merely a concept, why bind yourself to such small concerns?

The truth is, the Nimbus e-Car will probably never move past the concept stage. More likely Volkswagen will eventually give us the electric or hybrid successor to the original Type 2 that the world deserves, as concepts like the Nimbus prove there’s plenty of interest left in the nostalgia of living a bohemian life, in the city and beyond. Now if somebody would just gather up the necessary signatures to prove to Volkswagen (or any automaker, really) that the hippie bus needs to make a comeback for us modern-age hipsters. Maybe it efficient, highly-connected, but simple too, so we can make it fit our particular brand of crazy.

You know, just like the original hippies.

Introducing the VW All-Electric Microbus - Dubbed the Bulli

Volkswagen is unveiling an electric microbus concept at the Geneva Motor show. The original Microbus (called the Bulli in Germany) was introduced in 1950. In 2001, Volkswagen developed a modern concept version it called the Microbus concept. The new electric Bulli, more compact and affordable than the earlier concept, is fitted with six seats.

The Bulli is powered by a 40 kWh Li-ion battery pack; the electric motor deliver 85 kW of power and 270 N·m (199 lb-ft) of torque. The Bulli has a range of some 300 km (186 miles). Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 11.5 seconds, and top speed is 140 km/h (87 mph), electronically limited.

The concept can also incorporate Volkswagen’s gasoline and diesel direct injection engines as alternative drives.

Source: Green Car Congress