Volkswagen has repeatedly gone on record to say it will revive the spirit of the iconic Microbus with a fully electric ID Buzz model. Europe will be getting it first next year, while North America will have to wait until 2023 for the hotly anticipated zero-emissions people mover. A new report from Automotive News Europe claims to shed light on three different versions the modern-day Microbus will offer, depending on the region.
The ID Buzz destined to be sold on the Old Continent will allegedly come in a six-passenger configuration with individual rear seats and a screen for each passenger. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will apparently aim this flavor of the electric Microbus to ride-pooling services in Europe.
In the United States, the ID Buzz is expected to come in a ride-hailing flavor targeting people traveling on their own or in small groups. The US-spec derivative is believed to have two seats facing forward and another two facing rearward.
Aside from these passenger-oriented models, the VW ID Buzz will also come in a cargo version, making it essentially a commercial van. It will be mainly for parcel delivery companies, according to ANE.
Due to be built in Hannover, Germany from next year, the new EV is rumored to come with a rear-wheel-drive layout featuring a single electric motor and a more expensive all-wheel-drive model with a dual-motor arrangement. The base model could have around 200 horsepower while the beefier version is said to pump out roughly 300 horsepower.
VW is working on an ID Buzz with level 4 autonomy it aims to have ready for commercial transport of goods and people by the middle of the decade.
The EV’s arrival won’t spell the end of the traditional Transporter and Multivan as both will peacefully co-exist with the new-era people mover. The next Transporter is expected to be developed with Ford while the Multivan recently switched to the T7 model, complete with a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time.
Source: Automotive News Europe
