Volkswagen Microbus gets an electric avatar in VW ID. Buzz

Volkswagen’s Microbus or Kombi may remind you of hippies, flower power, and peace signs, but there’s no denying its cult status. Now, the German carmaker is giving this van a modern all-electric makeover, and the result is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. 

After years of teasing, VW has finally revealed the production-ready version of its electric minivan. While it looks modern, a lot of design elements stay true to the original van – only upgraded. Europe is set to get a five-seater variant later this year, while the US will get a stretched out six or seven-seater variant sometime in 2024. 

The European spec model will be powered by a 81kWh battery pack producing 201hp, 229Nm of torque, and a top-speed of 145kph. The automaker hasn’t revealed official range figures, but does say that the battery can charge up to 80% in just 30 minutes.

On the inside is a 10in digital cluster, and a 10in infotainment system at the centre with support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. VW also says that the interiors are leather-free, and infact use recycled materials made from 10% ocean plastic, and 90% recycled PET bottles.