The “Bulli” may not be Volkswagen’s best-selling car, but it is certainly the most emotional. That was not necessarily to be expected 70 years ago, after all it was a pure commercial vehicle. However, the memories associated with the VW bus quickly made it a classic. After all, the Bulli was perfect from the start for transporting families, moving house, doing bulk shopping or going on vacation.
Over time, the VW bus also grew up: the model change from T3 to T4 is considered a turning point by Bulli fans, the engine changed with this series from the rear to the front, instead of rear-wheel drive, the Bulli was driven on the front wheels like a Golf. Financially, that made sense for Volkswagen, but many fans missed the original Bulli feeling. In addition, the exterior also lost more and more of the original forms.
Again and again VW toyed with including a “real Bulli” in the portfolio alongside the classic VW bus. Although designs such as the Microbus (2001) or New Bulli (2011) delighted the press and fans, they were never built. Until now: The new ID.Buzz will look more like the original VW bus than almost any van of the last few decades, of course adapted to the modern age and with an electric drive instead of a boxer engine.
VW ID.Buzz: test drive through Hamburg
The VW ID.Buzz will be available on the international markets from autumn as a normal and long version as well as a cargo version for craftsmen and tradespeople. The design of the series model with the characteristic two-tone paintwork is pasted over in the prototype and the interior is also cloaked behind black camouflage mats, but it is already clear that the design will be one of the great strengths.
The 4.71 meter long ID.Buzz scores points in the city, because it can be maneuvered compactly with a turning circle of around eleven meters, parks easily and is unusually comfortable, even over breaks and bumps in the asphalt.
Volkswagen’s new “Bulli”: engines and driving data
The Lower Saxony transporter is already on the move from the bottom up and committed to the cause. No surprise, because the electric motor in the rear has an output of 150 kW / 204 hp and a maximum torque of 310 Nm. As with the other models in the ID family, the 77 kWh battery pack is installed between the axles and is intended to achieve a range of 400 kilometers without recharging. It will not stay with one drive variant, because there should be a smaller 50 kWh battery for the cargo variant in particular, because the tradespeople look at every euro. Other versions with less and more power will follow later, as well as an all-wheel drive version.
Performance data at a glance:
- 204 hp
- 310 Nm
- 77kWh battery
- 170 kw charging power
- 145 km/h top speed
- approx. 2 t weight
Thanks to the powerful engine, the ID.Buzz pulls its impressive weight of around two tons without any problems – if you change the driving program, you can also switch to the so-called one-pedal mode with maximum deceleration, in which the brake pedal remains almost useless. However, the top speed leaves a lot to be desired: at 145 km/h, the end is unfortunately reached even faster here than with the other ID models. After all, the ID. Refuel Buzz after the latest technical revisions on the in-house electric platform with up to 170 kilowatts at the fast charging station.
VW ID.Buzz as a commercial vehicle
Whether the VW ID.Buzz will be a success will be decided, especially in Europe, with the Cargo commercial vehicle variant, which should start at around 30,000 euros. This offers a loading length of 2.21 meters, can swallow two Euro pallets and has a loading volume of four cubic meters. The five-seater passenger car variant, priced from around 40,000 euros, not only offers an electric boot lid and two powerful sliding doors, but also 1,121 liters of volume behind the generously dimensioned rear. The loading sill is 62 centimeters high. The trailer load: 1,000 kg. The seats are comfortable in the front and rear, the space is great and the camouflage mats cover not only the well-known displays with diagonals of up to 12 inches, but also the seven USB ports in the cockpit, center console and in the doors.
No question: The VW ID.Buzz will find its fans. Not only among tradespeople, but also among those for whom the VW T7 Transporter is simply old world.