Two battery sizes
While the ID Buzz with normal wheelbase appears almost cubic, its proportions with the wheelbase extended by 25 centimetres resemble its historical predecessors. For the first time, the ID Buzz comes with a third row of seats, and the boot volume grows significantly - up to 2649 litres.
In the front, the long ID Buzz has two single seats; only the commercial vehicle version Cargo is available with a front bench seat for three. The second row of seats is available as a three-seater bench or with two individual seats; incidentally, it cannot be removed because of the standard seat heating. The third row of seats, optional in Europe and available in the short version in the future, can be removed or folded down like the second row, resulting in a completely flat load floor.
The long ID Buzz is offered with two battery sizes: 77 kWh and 85 kWh. And while the short ID Buzz currently has the APP-310 electric motor with 150 kW (204 hp), the long ID Buzz uses the all-new APP-550 motor with 210 kW (286 hp). The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 7.9 seconds (instead of 10.2 seconds), the Vmax climbs from 145 to 160 km/h. The more powerful engine will also be available in the future. The more powerful engine will also be used in the short ID Buzz in the future.
The user interface and infotainment take a technological leap forward. The large central screen has been restructured, and for the first time there is a head-up screen that projects vehicle data onto the windscreen. In addition, there is a large panoramic roof especially for the long version that can be switched from transparent to opaque, and the large centre side window can be ordered with a small window opening.
Camping version under development
VW is already talking about further models. For example, the ID Buzz Cargo will get a version of the APP-310 engine throttled down to 125 kW (170 hp) as an entry-level engine, and it will also be available with a small 63 kWh battery. At the other end of the spectrum comes a GTX version - with 250 kW (339 hp). It will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds.
In addition, the developers are working on a camping version, which could be called California, as in the case of the combustion engines. And because a gas cooker in a (locally emission-free) electric bus could be seen as a break in the system, it is likely to be equipped with induction hotplates. Whether the burger prepared on it is as "vegan" as the imitation leather interior is up to the customer. (cen/jm)
