The ID BUZZ VS. The Original VW Microbus
The VW Microbus revolutionized the auto industry. You might recognize it as the iconic hippy van of the 1950s. Popular amongst pop culture and society for its sense of freedom and adventure. The VW Microbus persevered through a tumultuous time in America. Millions were made, but eventually the social revolution subsided, and so did interest in the vehicle. However, all is not lost, as the counterculture symbol is finally back. This time, it’s all-electric. Will it measure up to what once was? Here is what we know about the all-new I.D. BUZZ!
Exterior
Exterior Design
Over time, standards change. With that being said, looking back at the original VW bus, its footprint isn’t too far off in size from a Honda Odyssey. Which is considered relatively small for a van. For that reason, Volkswagen made the I.D. BUZZ about 17 inches longer than the original 168-inch van, along with adding 10 inches in width. The exterior will still offer that two-tone color along with the VW logo upfront in tribute to the original model. Volkswagen even went as far as to mimic the rear vents that were used on the original model for air-cooling the rear engine.
Interior
VW Microbus Interior
VW I.D. BUZZ Interior
Some of the bigger changes we can see are in the interior. The original Microbus was made to be a blank canvas for customizations and upgrades. whereas the I.D. BUZZ will feature a more modernized design, including a digital instrument panel and infotainment system. Now let’s talk seating. Depending on what model you chose, the original VW bus would seat up to nine people. With what we know from Europe’s model of the I.D. BUZZ , as they aren’t bringing the bus into the States until 2024, we can expect seating for 5-7 people. Europe’s model currently has seating for five, but there is a rumor that later long-base models that come to the U.S. will have two additional seats.
Cargo Room
Now listen up if you are planning to use this model for road trips, etc. The first VW bus was designed to carry whatever your adventure entailed, although it was a hard loading process from the passenger side. With the I.D. BUZZ, it is set up with a sliding door and a large rear hatch. The cargo area is roomy and easy to load, but you will have to watch how much you load as the seat rows do not fold down.
Power
ID BUZZ
Lastly, let’s talk about power. The early rear-engine, air-cooled Type 2 Volkswagen Microbus didn’t have much power, offering around 25 horsepower. Although the original one was gas-powered compared to the electric ID BUZZ, The base ID BUZZ uses a single rear motor capable of making 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque for the European models, though we can expect significantly more power with an expected all-wheel drive powertrain featuring motors front and rear for the U.S. models. Although we don’t have access to what the number of that power will be yet.
0 comment(s) so far on The ID BUZZ VS. The Original VW Microbus