The most iconic symbol of the flower-power era, and one that can be easily recognized in the history of Volkswagen models — the Hippie Van — will be reborn as a full electric car. Known officially as Volkswagen Type 2 but recognized as Volkswagen Microbus, Kombi or Transporter, this car is the one that succeeded to revolutionize transport of people across Europe and The United States, after the Second World War.
Volkswagen started the production of the Type 2 car in the 1950s, and it is the result of Ben Pon Sr’s imagination and in the 1960s, VW Type 2 famously became the vehicle of the Hippie generation, the car being the favorite way of transportation for hippies in the United States. Since the production started in 1970, the VW Bus had been the best-selling bus in history, yet its production stopped in 2013. That was until now, because Volkswagen is thinking about bringing the old classic back to life, presenting a brand new concept of what’s going to be VW Bus of our modern age.
Volkswagen presented the I.D.BUZZ at 2017 NAIAS Detroit show (which is now underway until 22nd January). The resurrected vehicle is now believed to be the most versatile and emotional electric car ever and its unique features are the ones that describe how electric mobility of the future will be. The new van will adapt to every passengers’ needs, providing comfort and loads of space for long trips. Also, its sensor systems — like radar sensor, laser scanners or ultrasound sensors, area-view cameras — will identify danger in traffic by scanning the local area around the car, so that the drivers and the passengers will have a “free-accident” ride. Thanks to augmented reality and intuitive voice control, I.D.BUZZ offers a completely new user experience offering key information into the driver’s field of vision, in 3D, through a Head-up Display.
Volkswagen showed us only a glimpse of small minibus concepts, from Bulli to Budd-e, but until now, none of these became reality. Regardless of what has happened up to this point, the giant automobile group announced at the above mentioned Detroit Auto Show on January 9th, a brand new concept of the popular VW Type 2, named I.D.BUZZ, fully electric and with a design that resembles the old iconic model.
I.D.BUZZ is the second concept from the I.D. Volkswagen series, coming after one that was presented in the fall of 2016, and if it makes it to actual production, the bus will be powered by a pair of electric motors that offer a 369 horsepower, allowing I.D.BUZZ to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. More than that, the top speed will be limited at 160 km/h.
According to Volkswagen, the new I.D. concept was designed as an autonomous car — the full package is called I.D. Pilot and will be available after the official launch of the production model, in 2025.With a simple press of the Volkswagen logo that lies on the steering wheel, it will retract into the dash, the car will change the interior lighting, announcing that it has entered into full autonomous mode. Also, the driver’s seat will turn at 180 degrees, so basically it will become as same as a passenger seat. Being a future car, I.D.BUZZ will adapt to the driver’s personal lifestyle, and will connect other people, cars and the environment, using only a Volkswagen User-ID.
The Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, Dr. Herbert Diess explains in a press release that “The I.D.BUZZ stands for the new Volkswagen: modern, positive, emotional, future-orientated. By 2025, we want to sell one million electric cars per year, making e-mobility the new trademark of Volkswagen. The new e-Golf2 already offers 50 percent more electric range. From 2020 onwards we will then launch our I.D. family, a new generation of fully electric, fully connected cars. It will be affordable for millions, not just to millionaires.”
Christian Senger, VW’s Head of E-mobility, declared in a statement that “We believe there’s a real market for automated cars.”Although today I.D.BUZZ is seen as a concept, the bus may see the sunlight in 2021, after the first car from the MEB (Modular Electric Drive or Modularer Elektrobaukasten) will be produced. While I.D.BUZZ is a really cool concept for the 21st century, there is no guarantee that this model will make it to production.
And if VW succeeds with the van’s resurrection, it definitely looks like it could take on the iconic design and its legacy, and make a lot for people’s mobility. Just take a look at the concept’s presentation at NAIAS Detroit 2017:
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Photos: Volkswagen AG, Pinterest