VW I.D Buzz concept showcased at the IAA 2017 - Live

Although the I.D Buzz concept is not new (unveiled at the 2017 NAIAS), the fact that VW announced its production plans in August made us revisit the iconic Microbus successor. However, it is going to be a rather long wait before the public can get their hands on one; the production version is confirmed to arrive in showrooms in 2022.

VW also confirmed that the I.D Buzz will come in both passenger Minibus and commercial Cargo variants. Both will feature full electric drivetrains for zero emission propulsion. The Buzz Concept featured two electric motors, one at the front axle and one at the rear, each generating 201 hp. There’s a 111 kWh batteries mounted on the floor to run these motors. VW claims it can be charged to 80% of its capacity within 30 minutes using the Combined Charging System (CCS) or an inductive charging interface.

The electric drivetrain does not take up much space so VW can mount the front and rear axles very far apart from one another. This results in a long wheelbase and short overhangs, resulting in more space for occupants and storage. For reference, the I.D Buzz measures 4,942 mm, a width of 1,976 mm, a height of 1,963 mm and a long wheelbase of 3,299 mm. It's based on the stretched version of the MEB platform; called ‘MEB-XL’.

The I.D Buzz concept is the world’s first fully automated multi-purpose vehicle. Pushing the steering wheel gently makes it retract and merge into the instrument panel, turning on the fully autonomous “I.D. Pilot”. Expect the production version to feature an adaptation of such an autonomous system in 2022.