Volkswagen Is Getting Ready To Debut The Vintage ID Buzz EV

It's the first time we've seen a pre-production prototype of the ID Buzz, Volkswagen's planned electric-powered multi-seat MPV. The announcement did take place at VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, during a demonstration of the new ID 5 model.

The ID Buzz, which will go on sale in the UK in the second half of 2022, will be Volkswagen's fourth dedicated electric model, following the ID 3, ID 4, and the recently introduced ID 5. With manufacturing set to begin early next year at VW's Hannover commercial vehicle facility, it will be the first ID product to be sold as both a passenger car and a commercial vehicle.

The new MPV will be available in both conventional and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter not expected until 2023. It will be developed on Volkswagen's MEB electric vehicle architecture. According to Volkswagen officials, the production ID Buzz has a squarer design than the concept, which is intended to give it more internal room.

Many of the design references from the previous concept have been toned down as well, giving the new ID model a sleeker and certainly less forced appearance than was originally envisioned.

Angular headlamps that wrap into the front wings are among the key external design features revealed in the latest Volkswagen photos. A light band connects them, which passes through a giant VW logo conspicuously displayed on an inclined bonnet. The full-width grille, identical to that of the concept, can be found lower down.

The new ID model's technical specifications have yet to be revealed, although this is supposed to share its powertrain and battery arrangements with other ID-badged vehicles.

ID Buzz is also expected to play a key role in the debut of Volkswagen's self-driving technology, which the company is developing in collaboration with Argo AI. It will be outfitted with level three capabilities when it debuts in 2022, but Volkswagen claims it will be able to add level four capability soon after.