Say hello to the new Volkswagen ID.Buzz, the latest model to join VW's assault on the electric car market. Like the ID.3 and ID.4 that have come before it, the ID.Buzz uses the firm's MEB all-electric platform, but this time it's draped in a people carrier body that takes design inspiration from VW's classic camper.
Retro looks, modern tech
At launch, the VW ID.Buzz will come with a 204hp electric motor driving the rear wheels, while the battery has a usable capacity of 77kWh - the same as the largest pack found in the ID.4. While VW hasn't confirmed how far the ID.Buzz will go on a full charge, expect a range of up to about 400km. What VW has confirmed is that the ID.Buzz will come with a maximum charging capacity of 170kW, so DC charging from five to 80 per cent capacity in as little as half an hour is theoretically possible. VW has also fitted 11kW charging capability to take advantage of the fastest AC home charging available (though that won't be relevant for most Irish motorists). A smart addition on the ID.Buzz is bi-directional charging, so as well as being able to charge at home, any energy in the car's battery can be fed back to the mains, assuming the ESB has wired your house to allow it.
However, it's the ID.Buzz's looks that are the major talking point until we drive it later in the year. The newcomer uses retro design cues in the same way that the 'New Beetle' did back in 1998. The car's overall silhouette is similar to that of the recently launched Multivan, but the smooth nose and more compact dimensions set it apart. The ID.Buzz is 4,712mm long, 261mm shorter than the T7, but the short overhangs and a long wheelbase mean that cabin space is maximised. Exterior highlights include slender LED lights front and rear, a large VW badge on the nose and sliding side doors to boost cabin access.
VW has revealed the ID.Buzz in classic two-tone paint schemes, which will be available as an option at launch. Colours comprise yellow, blue, orange or green with candy white above the belt line and into the nose of the car.
Space for a family of five
That interior features a conventional five-seat layout, but seven-seat and long wheelbase models are scheduled to arrive in due course. The five-seater offers lots of space as standard, though, thanks to a rear bench that folds in a 60:40 split and also slides back and forth. VW quotes a maximum luggage capacity of 1,121 litres in five-seat mode, increasing to 2,205 litres with the back seats folded flat into the floor.
The interior design mirrors that of the exterior, with two-tone colours available to match the bodywork and plenty of white coloured trim on show, from the steering wheel to the seats. We'll have to wait and see how well that stands up to the trials of family life, although pictures of the Cargo model (i.e. the van versions) show black interior trim is available, so it's likely to be offered in the MPV variant too. A large glass area will help to emphasise the spaciousness of the ID.Buzz's cabin.
Up front, the driver display and central touchscreen are familiar from VW's other ID models, and offer a suitably hi-tech, minimalist look. The driver's Digital Cockpit measures 5.3 inches across, and the touchscreen is 10 inches, while higher-spec cars will come with a 12-inch display. Online connectivity comes as standard via We Connect Plus, while wireless smartphone connectivity is standard, too. Touch-sensitive climate controls also feature, while the ID.Buzz will be offered with up to eight USB-C charging ports around the cabin so occupants can keep their devices topped up.
'Zero environmental impact'
Volkswagen is keen to highlight the ID.Buzz's environmental credentials. Leather will not be offered as an option on any model; instead VW uses synthetic products that offer similar properties. The steering wheel has a leather-effect trim, while some of the materials used in the seats are made from recycled plastics, and its ArtVelours fabric features 71 per cent recycled matter.
VW has also pledged to offset the carbon dioxide produced in the ID.Buzz's manufacture at its plant in Hanover, so the MPV will be 'emissions free' from assembly to delivery to customers.
The new VW ID.Buzz goes into production later in the year, with first Irish deliveries due to start in the autumn. Prices will be announced closer to its on-sale date, though it's expected that the starting price will be just under €60,000.