What's the news?
It's not, perhaps, the most surprising news of all time but it is nonetheless news that makes us tingle with excitement - Volkswagen is going to put its all-electric ID Buzz concept, a modern-day interpretation of the classic T2 van and camper, into production. It's expected to go on sale in 2022.
The announcement was made at the Pebble Beach classic car event in California, with Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess saying that: "After the presentations at the global motor shows in Detroit and Geneva, we received a large number of letters and emails from customers who said, 'please build this car.'
"The Microbus has long been part of the California lifestyle. Now we're bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle.
"For me, the I.D. Buzz concept is the most beautiful and most exciting electric car in the world. Our goal is clear: we want to make the fully electric, fully connected car a bestseller around the world. The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen."
CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen, Hinrich J. Woebcken added: "We are delighted that our parent company has taken the decision to produce the ID Buzz. This vehicle is the perfect balance between emotion, usability and sustainability, while also showcasing our technological leadership. The high seating position, cargo capacity, overall versatility and all-wheel drive option packaged into such an appealing design is just what our customers want from us. And it's the perfect fit for the zero-emissions American lifestyle."
The Buzz is the second new-generation all-electric Volkswagen to get the production go-ahead, with the ID hatchback concept already confirmed to go on sale in 2020. Both cars share a common new platform, the MEB, which has been specially designed for electric cars. All of the batteries and electric motors are mounted low-down in the floor, making for both a low centre of gravity and exceptional interior space. Volkswagen says that the ID Buzz will offer more space inside than a full-size SUV yet has the footprint of a compact family car, and will have hugely versatile seating. "The vehicle looks like a compact commercial van on the outside, even though it offers the generous interior space of a large SUV," Diess explained. "These cars will offer everything - and even more - than you have seen from other electric carmakers. And they will be much more affordable."
It will also be highly autonomous, with at least Level Three autonomy (which means you are still in charge of the car but can take your hands off the controls for long stretches of time). Volkswagen hasn't mentioned specific details of performance or range as yet, but when the initial concept was shown, there was talk of one-charge range as long as 600km, and sports-car like acceleration from the ID Buzz's electric motors which develop a combined 370hp, and provide four-wheel drive. It remains to be seen if the concept's fold-away steering wheel, which is also a touch-screen, and the pop-up laser scanners which watch the road ahead in autonomous mode, will make it through to production.
There will also be a commercial version, a proper successor to that original T2. "Along with a minibus version, we'll also be offering an ID Buzz Cargo variant for zero-emissions delivery of goods," said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CEO Dr Eckhard Scholz. "With Level Three autonomous capability, this is an ideal concept for an electric van, particularly for delivering packages and goods to the inner cities." It should be exceptionally spacious - take out or fold flat the Buzz's seats and it can apparently hold as much as 4,500-litres of cargo.