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VW teases electric and autonomous ‘van life’ with new ID BUZZ microbus video

VW’s iconic Westfalia microbus inspired many to live a different lifestyle, which people now refer to today as “van life”, and now Volkswagen is looking to do it again but this time with the all-electric and autonomous ID BUZZ microbus.

The company teased the electric and autonomous “van life” in a new video.

The German automaker unveiled the I.D. BUZZ electric microbus in Detroit back in 2017.

At first glance, it looked like just one more cool electric vehicle concept that Volkswagen was teasing but would never bring to market.

The company assures us that is not the case. They have plans to bring the vehicle to production within the next three years and they are even investing in the production of the electric microbus in the US.

VW said that there will be two options. The most high-end will feature an all-wheel drive system with a total output of 369 horsepower powered by a massive 111 kWh battery pack. Surprisingly, especially after their previous range comparisons, VW also offered the estimated range based on the U.S. driving cycle, which the company claims will be 270 miles.

The German automaker claims that this version of the I.D. BUZZ can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds and has a top speed of 99 mph.

Another less expensive version will feature a rear-wheel drive setup producing up to 268 hp and a smaller 83 kWh battery for a range closer to 200 miles.

Last year, VW brought a working prototype of the electric microbus to Monterey:

There’s already a lot of buzz around the vehicle – no pun intended. Many EV enthusiasts are thinking about what they could with the vehicle, like a generation before did with VW’s classic camper/microbus.

The idea of traveling around without gas or emissions and camping out anywhere offers a new level of freedom that is appealing to many.

VW tries to offer a glimpse of what that could look like in a new video promoting the VW ID BUZZ:

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Avatar for Fred Lambert Fred Lambert

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