Skip to main content

VW Reveals the I.D. Buzz Electric Microbus Concept in Detroit

[See image gallery at www.vwvortex.com]

The Volkswagen microbus of the “Make Love, Not War” era is one of the most iconic vehicles ever made, and the German automaker has reimagined the hippy van as a futuristic EV.

The Volkswagen ID Buzz Concept, an interesting name considering the old microbus’ connection to cannabis culture, made its global debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. Showcasing the automaker’s new focus on alternative powertrains that are not diesel, the ID Buzz Concept is fully electric and has a claimed driving range of 270 miles.

Autodesk VRED Professional 2017 SP1

Of course, the zero-emissions, all-wheel-drive ID Buzz concept is capable of fully autonomous driving, so the driver’s seat can be turned to face the rear passengers and the steering wheel can retract into the dashboard. Volkswagen says the autonomous driving system used in this concept could see real roads by 2025.

Thanks to a floor-mounted 111 kWh battery, the energy storage system doesn’t take up any passenger or cargo room while also keeping the vehicle’s center of gravity low for better driving dynamics. The battery can be charged to 80 percent in half an hour using a 150 kW outlet. Total system output for the ID Buzz is rated at 369 horsepower and each axle has an electric motor, which means the van is AWD. VW says the ID Buzz can hit 60 mph in about five seconds and it has a limited top speed of 99 mph.

Autodesk VRED Professional 2017 SP1

Inside, the ID Buzz has an augmented reality head-up display, touch-capacitive surfaces, flexible seating, a wood floor, an integrated and removable tablet, a panoramic roof and more. The third row can be turned into a bed and the second row can be reconfigured as tables.

With a cargo capacity of between 23.3 to 162.5 cubic feet inside and a 6.1 cu-ft front trunk, the ID Buzz also “offers an extraordinarily spacious interior.” The car also recognizes individual drivers using their smartphone signature and can remember their unique settings and preferences. All the doors are power-operated and can be opened via sensors.

The ID Buzz is built on VW’s Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), which will be used to underpin its future electric cars. And true to retro form, the ID Buzz has a charming look and two-tone paint job.

DB2016AU01093

The post VW Reveals the I.D. Buzz Electric Microbus Concept in Detroit appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2js2Pw1
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Saying Goodbye to the CC V6

For all its size and its global reach, Volkswagen is still, in many ways, a deeply human company. There was, for instance, the Bugatti Veyron an ego project if ever there was one. Then the purchase of Ducati, a move most called folly. And then there was the Phaeton, the Volkswagen that most folks can’t afford. Not only were these moves all strange, I’m sure that they made VW’s accountants furious. None of them made good business sense, but they were all deeply interesting and they all are evidence of the heart that beats at the center of VW. Among these follies is the CC, a car that everyone agrees is rakishly handsome, but that no one really wanted to buy. The car couldn’t last, but the world is brighter for its having been in it. With the approach debut of the Arteon, it seems like a good time to look back on its sadly departing predecessor. The version I drove, because I live in Canada, is a V6 Wolfsburg Edition, which apparently isn’t available in the States. Nor is the V6, not as

Waterfest Moves to Atco Dragway

Waterfest 24 will be held at Atco Dragway, in Atco, New Jersey. The summer event will take place at its new venue on July 21 and 22. Long held in Englishtown, New Jersey, the festival has been such a large part of the VW scene that the latest iteration of the Golf even comes with optional “Englishtown” wheels . The new venue, however, is an NHRA drag track a scant 52 miles southwest of Englishtown. The ¼ mile drag track opened in 1960, which makes it the oldest drag strip in New Jersey. The announcement came today on a social media post that announced the new location. Waterfest is North America’s largest VW/Audi show. As many 20,000 people show up for the annual show, making the second largest show in the world—with Worthersee being number one. 2018 will be Waterfest’s 24 th year in existence. The post Waterfest Moves to Atco Dragway appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2GQjkuc via IFTTT

Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Mitsubishi , Fuel Efficiency , Japan Mitsubishi says its shady fuel-economy test practices may have been used on all vehicles it sells and has sold in Japan. Continue reading Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2016 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/21X3bHv