Yes, the VW Bus is back and it's electric. Will Volkswagen hit its target?
Volkswagen hasn't been doing too hot lately. With recalls, sluggish sales, and that whole emissions fiasco, the company has slipped down in consumer confidence. It is in need of a big boost, and what's better than a classic? The German automaker is pushing the release of its rebooted concept version of the VW Bus.
Where and When
After appearing last year at auto shows across Europe, Volkswagen saw a point of opportunity to pounce on. A production version of the VW Bus, which will be known as the I.D. Buzz concept, will debut in 2022 in the U.S., Europe, and China.
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Electricity is in the Air
"Our goal is clear: we want to make the fully electric, fully connected car a bestseller around the world," said Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand. The Buzz, along with other concept vehicles coming into production from Volkswagen, uses VW's Modular Electric Drive kit (or MEB), which is a group of components and chassis parts made with the intention of capitalizing on electric engineering.
Vintage Design
This version of the VW Bus pays homage to the original in terms of design. It's not a straightforward copy, but it's easy to recognize its roots.
Since its reveal at the Detroit Auto Show in 2017, the I.D. Buzz has taken home a slew of awards, giving Volkswagen a boost of confidence and energy. The front of the car recalls the two-tone predecessor on the original and LED headlights in hexagonal segments.
Tech Heaven
Another big difference from the old VW Bus is that this one comes with a fresh set of tech-savvy add-ons that would make other modern cars blush. A fold-away steering wheel, pop-up laser scanners in the roof, and a heads-up display that uses augmented reality creates a unique and innovative driving experience.
See the animated video below for a closer look:
More Horses
The original VW Bus sold in the United States back in 1950 had only 30 horsepower. But the new I.D. Buzz concept dishes out a whopping 369 hp all from electric motors, so obviously it's made some improvements. It also comes with all wheel drive and a 111 kWh battery pack.
Altogether, the aforementioned MEB will bless the new VW Bus with a 300-mile range from the electric drive train.
NEXT: Production Version of Volkswagen ID Concept To Debut in 2020
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