The Volkswagen Microbus was an icon of the Hippie era.
Could the German maker score again in an age when the youth generation is focused on environmental issues? It’s certainly hoping so, as it confirmed widespread rumors that it will put a modern version of the Microbus, the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz, into production.
First shown at the January 2017 North American International Auto Show, the I.D. Buzz Concept picked up on many of the classic microvan’s design cues, starting with the relatively blunt nose and flat roof. But instead of the rear-mounted engine of the classic Microbus, the I.D. Buzz will rely on a pure battery-electric drivetrain.
“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,’” Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said at a presentation today, ahead of the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The location, he added, made sense, since “The Microbus has long been part of the California lifestyle. Now we’re bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle.”
While slow out of the gate, VW has been rapidly plugging into electric propulsion. It now has a variety of hybrids, plug-ins and even pure battery models, such as the e-Golf. But it is also working up an entirely new sub-brand, Volkswagen I.D., specifically for electrified offerings. All told, Diess has said there will be at least such models in the line-up a decade from now.
To read more of the original article, go to The Detroit Bureau.
