The Detroit Motor Show, the youngest year's show, is dominated by a plethora of fat SUVs, pickups and power-hungry sports cars. But a futuristic unique for eight passengers, with pure electric drive, without proper dashboard and at a top speed of just 160 km / h has the makings of the show. Of the VW ID Buzz is intended to warm up the nostalgic feelings of the now gray-eyed representatives of the flower power generation and at the same time to convince the trendsetters among today's car buyers.
After all, the 4,92 meter-long minibus with the lush wheelbase of 3,30 meters is the second member of the family, with the VW wants to arrive from 2020 in the electric age. First, the hatchback will go to the start, followed by a still unknown SUV. But then the now revealed bus could join. "We make electric mobility the new brand of VW," announces VW boss Herbert Diess.
Much of the ID Buzz is reminiscent of the icon of the 60er years. The now technically unnecessary louvers on the last roof pillar, the slightly curved front without bonnet or the circumferential line, which takes on the bow of an oversized VW logo in the middle. In sum, the new, despite the clear bonds with the great-grandfather emphasizes futuristic. The interplay between the morning and the day before yesterday succeeded the designers around Klaus Bischoff perfectly. "In doing so, we did not put a retro design on 22 inch wheels, but logically developed the most successful van design in the world."
This applies particularly to the interior, for which Klaus Bischoff probably spent the motto "Joie de vivre through versatility". Depending on the version, three-seater seats can be turned or moved on slide rails, in the middle there is a fold-out table on request. Of course there is also the possibility to turn the ID Buzz into a rolling bedroom with a lawn. The fans of the veteran already loved this possibility at the open-air festivals of Woodstock and elsewhere.
All in all, the interior offers a lounge atmosphere, the ambience of which can be designed to suit the mood in the dark by various light installations. During the day, thanks to a panoramic roof and large side windows, the favorite term from many real estate ads fits - flooded with light. The flat bottom is made of fine birch wood like a yacht. The sliding sun visors on the side are so softly padded that rear passengers can lean comfortably against the windows on long journeys. Of course, the VW of the near future will always be online and always connected to the outside world.
Because with an electric car now many components of a classic vehicle are eliminated, there is even more space in the newcomer than the outside dimensions suggest. Bischoff calculates: "The ID Buzz stands on the base of a T 6, but offers inside the dimensions of the same model with a long wheelbase". Everything benefits the inmates. Or a future van for use as a commercial vehicle.
However, users of the future cult mobile also have to renounce. The familiar cockpit is past. The ID Buzz comes with a rectangular touchscreen monitor in the center in front of the front seats, over which almost everything can be controlled. It can be removed, for example, to program the planned route at home or to play your favorite music. Even the usual instruments fall away. All information is projected into the windshield. For the driver, the numbers of the speedometer or the instructions of the navigation system but appear as if they were painted far ahead of the car on the road.
In addition, the steering wheel offers additional operating options, although it can be electrically retracted if the person hands over the command of the electronics. Because the Detroit star is already technically prepared for the self-driving car, even if this is provided only from 2025 in several stages. With all nostalgia coming up, the ID Buzz is bursting with state-of-the-art technology for the future. Example drive: Depending on an 150-kW-strong electric motor on front and rear axle screwed the system performance on proud 275 kW / 374 PS and makes this version to the all-wheel drive. The distribution of the force takes over an electric cardan shaft. So motorized, the bus sprints smoothly in five seconds to 100 km / h. When 160 km / h is reached, the electronics throw the sanity anchor to protect the battery. The range should be 600 kilometers, charging to 80 percent of the capacity on special columns with 150 kW power take only 30 minutes. At home on the normal power outlet with just "normal" power but requires hours. But if the ID Buzz comes on the streets, this problem will probably be solved.
Since the ID Buzz is a so-called concept vehicle, the question remains, what will land of all times in the series. Klaus Bischoff: "Of course not everything, but most of what we show in Detroit today." Questionable is certainly the massive steering wheel, in which can no longer be grasped as usual today. Unfortunately, some of the materials such as the wooden floor will hardly survive the aptitude and financial test. (Peter Maahn / SP-X)