Volkswagen on March 9 introduced the production versions of ID electric vans. Buzz (passenger) and ID.Buzz Cargo (cargo).
Exterior production ID. Buzz reproduces the show car of the same name, shown in 2017, that is, five years ago. The difference lies in the simplifications that are inevitable when adapting an experimental design project to the legislative and technological requirements for serial cars. So, relative to the concept, the plastic of the body panels has become less expressive, and the headlights and taillights have been significantly increased in area. In addition, conventional side mirrors and natural-grip door handles were used (the show car had rear-view cameras and touch-sensitive handles).
The one-box body shape and short overhangs of the ID.Buzz are a nod to the iconic T1 van of the 50s and 60s. A two-tone coloring with separation along the horizontal stamping on the sidewalls also works on the retro image.
With an overall length of 4712 mm, the wheelbase reaches as much as 2988 mm. Width ID.Buzz - 1980 mm, height - 1938 mm.
The basic passenger configuration of the model has five seats. Access to the rear of the cabin is opened by two sliding doors. In 2023, a version of the model extended by 250 mm will be presented - with a seven-seat interior.
The machines are built on a purely electric platform MEB (Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukasten), which, in principle, does not involve the use of internal combustion engines.
Compared to the ID.4 soplatform hatchback, the Buzz driver sits 261mm higher to create the feeling of driving a commercial vehicle.
Despite the large frontal area, ID.Buzz has a drag coefficient at the level of sports cars: 0.28 for the passenger version and 0.29 for the cargo one.
In the European Union ID. Buzz will go on sale within a few months. The model will be offered with one electric motor mounted on the rear axle and, accordingly, the rear drive wheels. Engine power - 154 kW (201 hp), torque - 310 Nm. The capacity of a standard lithium-ion battery is 77 kWh. You can recharge the battery from a fast station with a power of up to 170 kW. In this case, the energy reserve from 5 to 80% can be replenished in just 30 minutes. Also, the machine itself is able to act as a source of energy for external objects - for example, households.
The power reserve on a full battery charge is not reported, however, according to unofficial information, it is 400 km.
The production of new items is being established at the Volkswagen plant in Hannover (Germany), the level of automation will be 90%.
The trunk volume of the passenger ID.Buzz is 1121 liters, and with the rear seats folded down, it increases to 2205. The van has a cargo compartment volume of 3.9 cubic meters. m.
In the European Union, sales of new items will start in the fall of 2022.