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VW to manufacture electric Kombi
Production plan announced at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California marks a new chapter in the 70-year history of the VW MicrobusThe I.D. BUZZ concept car from Volkswagen is being further developed in preparation for its launch as a production vehicle.
The Chairmen of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands, Dr Herbert Diess and Dr Eckhard Scholz, announced the decision at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, last week.
Pebble Beach is a unique show for both extraordinary historic cars and new concept vehicles. "Just the right place for the I.D. BUZZ," said Diess. "The vehicle is an important pillar in Volkswagen's electric drive initiative and carries the Microbus driving feeling into the future."
Volkswagen has set a launch date for the I.D. BUZZ, of 2022 which means it will follow the compact four-door I.D. model. Volkswagen is mainly targeting the markets in North America, Europe and China with both the I.D. BUZZ and the I.D. family overall.
It's no coincidence that the Board of Management chose Pebble Beach as the location to make its announcement, as Diess explained: "The Microbus, which is what the Bulli is called in America, has always been part of the California lifestyle. Now we're bringing it back by developing Volkswagen's next e-generation and by reinventing the Bulli as an electric vehicle."
As was the case with the 'Show Car of the Year' in Detroit, the production model will also have its batteries mounted in the vehicle floor. The electric drive doesn't take up much space, which means the front and rear axles can be mounted very far apart from one another. This results in a long wheelbase and short overhangs, which makes for more space in the interior. "The vehicle therefore looks like a short compact van on the outside, even as it offers the generous interior space of a large van", Diess explained.
Those who wish to use the model to transport cargo will get what they need as well: "Along with a minibus version, we'll also be offering an I.D. BUZZ Cargo variant for zero-emission delivery operations in a vehicle that boasts a high degree of automated driving capability," said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CEO Dr Eckhard Scholz. "It's an ideal electric van concept, particularly for inner cities."
With a length of 4942mm, a width of 1976mm and a height of 1963mm, the concept car offers extraordinary space dimensions. The production version, which is based on the new all-electric architecture, will incorporate many design ideas from the concept car. It will also feature variable seating, interactive connectivity and highly automated driving.
Expansion of the electric vehicle range is part of Volkswagen's Strategy 2025, which foresees more than 30 all-electric models by that time.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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