Volkswagen is continuing the heritage of its flexible Kombi, since it will soon have a variant of its all-electric ID. Buzz van to suit almost every possible need.
The German carmaker has shown some initial images of the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz and the seven-seat short-wheelbase variant as part of a recent slideshow presentation conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for investors.
It also teased part of the steering wheel of the upcoming, high-performance ID. Buzz GTX, which was confirmed to be in the works back in June this year.
This teased long-wheelbase version of the ID. Buzz will come with all-wheel drive, according to the presentation, with no further information provided.
To date, all versions of the ID. Buzz people mover and ID. Buzz Cargo van have only been available in short-wheelbase form with a 150kW/310Nm rear-mounted electric motor.
This single-motor rear-wheel drive powertrain is used in certain variants of the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5, Cupra Born, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Skoda Enyaq iV.
It’s unclear if this long-wheelbase all-wheel drive ID. Buzz variant will share the same dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with the ID.4 Pro 4Motion with 195kW, or the sporty ID. 4 GTX 4Motion with 220kW, or something else entirely.
It’s also unclear how much longer the long-wheelbase model will be exactly, but the rear overhang appears to be the same as the short-wheelbase model.
This long-wheelbase Volkswagen ID. Buzz will be be first model the North American market receives, with it expected to launch sometime in 2024.
The teased short-wheelbase ID. Buzz with the added third row of seating shows it has a typical seven-seat configuration – two in the first row, three in the second row, and two in the third row.
There doesn’t appear to be much boot space left behind the third row in this teased short-wheelbase model, but this shouldn’t be as much of an issue if the long-wheelbase model offers seven seats too.
As previously noted by Volkswagen head of sales and marketing for the ID. family Silke Bagschik in June this year, the company plans to offer sporty versions of all its electric vehicles, including the ID. Buzz.
“We will continuously expand this brand and offer a GTX variant for every ID. model in the future – from ID.3 to the ID. Buzz,” said Mr Bagschik.
The German automaker also said the ID.4 and ID.5 GTX models “provide a glimpse of the look of the other GTX models with new design accents in black and red”.
Despite series production of the regular ID. Buzz starting in May, Volkswagen has yet to lock in launch timing for Australia – though it’s expected soon.
Volkswagen Group Australia has maintained the delayed launch of its first VW-branded electric vehicles here is in part due to demand in other markets and a lack of emissions standards here, pushing us down the priority queue.
We’ll likely be waiting until late 2024 at the earliest to see the ID. Buzz and its ID. Buzz Cargo van counterpart in Australia.
“We’re constantly talking to not only local government, but fleet customers about what our future looks like for electric vehicles, because it’s in high demand, they want to move that way sooner [rather] than later,” said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia brand director Ryan Davies recently.
“ID. Cargo is firmly on our radar as well as ID. Buzz, [but] probably the earliest we could anticipate selling it is late 2024.
“We have big aspirations in terms of volume for that car, so we are confident that we’re going to get it. With what we have put on the table, with what we can achieve here from a volume perspective, we think the factory would be pretty happy with that appetite.”
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