VW has revealed the much-anticipated lengthy wheelbase model of its ID. Buzz electrical microbus, with an additional row of seats and beginning deliveries subsequent 12 months within the US.

Replace: we’ve added some extra data we gathered as we speak on the reveal occasion this morning in Huntington Seaside, CA.

The brand new ID. Buzz model is very like the two-row European-only spec, however with a little bit extra of nearly every part. It has 282hp versus 201hp (plus an out there 330hp dual-motor configuration) with a high velocity of 99 mph as a substitute of 90 mph, 91kWh as a substitute of 82kWh of battery, and is a full 10 inches longer. It additionally will get an openable rear window, not like the two-row model.

These further 10 inches all come within the type of a 10-inch-longer wheelbase. At 192.4 inches lengthy, the three-row ID. Buzz is definitely a full 2 toes longer than VW’s authentic 168-inch-long microbus. This all means extra space for people and cargo in comparison with the two-row model. The additional row of seats takes up a few of that area, however the 2nd row folds flat and third row may be eliminated (and Canada will get a singular long-wheelbase, two-row model, with out the third row of seats for many who simply need extra room).

Sitting within the automotive on the reveal occasion, there was no scarcity of area. At 6′ tall within the 2nd row and with a 6’3″ VW vendor consultant behind me, each of us had no scarcity of room in any dimension. 6 adults should not have any downside right here, and doubtless 7 so long as at the very least one in every of them is skinny. VW is planning a 6-seat choice, however we haven’t seen it but.

The longer wheelbase additionally means room for an additional 9kWh of battery. VW hasn’t but introduced the vary of the three-row model, although the European spec has 263 miles on the WLTP cycle. Whereas the 3-row has a bigger battery, it’s additionally an extended and heavier car, and EPA mileage estimates are considerably decrease than WLTP estimates, so we are able to’t make sure what the ultimate quantity will shake out as. All VW would inform is that will probably be someplace between 200-300 miles.

As for charging functionality, the two-row bus has 170kW charging, however a VW rep instructed us that the bigger battery will doubtless allow quicker charging, maybe as excessive as “round” 200kW.

The one stable efficiency-related reply VW supplied in writing, although, is that the Buzz has a drag coefficient of .29, which it calls “excellent for a car of this form” (i.e., a brick).

The North American mannequin additionally is available in three new colours that aren’t out there on the European spec: Cabana Blue, Metro Silver, and Indium Gray.

VW hasn’t but specified a value for the US model of the ID.Buzz, however it begins within the $65K-$70K vary in Europe after taxes. Whereas the 3-row model is bigger, VW hinted to us on the occasion that US pricing may even are available under European pricing, however that’s clearly not a promise as nothing is formally introduced but.

A lower cost may be crucial as a result of the ID.Buzz might be inbuilt Germany and imported to the US, which implies it gained’t get entry to tax credit just like the US-built ID.4 does. This additionally means the US gained’t get the cargo van – it will be topic to the “rooster tax” which retains international vehicles out of the US. VW says home manufacturing might occur, however that’s contingent on gross sales going nicely (we at Electrek suppose VW is underestimating the marketplace for this automotive), and on manufacturing timelines.

Regardless, this places the worth close to the high-end of the electrical SUV market, nowhere close to the entry degree. We point out electrical SUVs as a result of there isn’t actually one other car like this. There’s one plug-in hybrid minivan, the Pacifica Hybrid, and a few business electrical vans just like the eSprinter and E-Transit. The ID. Buzz sits someplace adjoining to a van and a minivan, with extra character than both, so it’s arduous to essentially discover a direct competitor for it.

However the closest factor might be minivans, and this might be a lot greater value than the gas-powered entry-level of that market, which is within the ~$35K vary. That mentioned, the Buzz might entry some state and native incentives and may have decrease working prices from power and upkeep.

And, as the primary all-electric entry into the market, VW most likely thinks it will possibly justify the next value. Anecdotally, there does appear to be vital demand on the market for a cool minivan-esque electrical car – particularly one that would allow attention-grabbing conversion/journey choices.

VW didn’t give us any extra information concerning the upcoming California camper van that it’s planning, however the lengthy wheelbase provides VW room to work with. With all that area and built-in electrical energy, there must be some actually cool choices on the market for van-lifers (maybe even ones who wish to keep off the grid with photo voltaic panels).

Electrek’s Take

We received a little bit hands-on time with the ID.Buzz at as we speak’s reveal occasion in Huntington Seaside, and crowds have been fairly excited concerning the new electrical bus.

As somebody whose household had a VW Vanagon Westfalia camper rising up, the VW bus has particular significance to me. My household went on a variety of adventures in that bus, and for all its quirks, it was an superior car.

And after I received into electrical autos, I always thought of what an incredible platform a bus can be for an EV, with loads of room underneath the ground for batteries which might energy numerous tenting equipment (stoves, lights, leisure, and so on.).

So when Voltswagen confirmed off its authentic ID. Buzz idea and leaned arduous into the cool retro model of all of it, I used to be instantly offered on the thought. I, and lots of others, thought it was simply too cool.

Then actuality set in, and the automotive ended up wanting rather less “cute” than the unique retro idea. The finalized model received a little bit extra boxy form, misplaced the attribute outdated multi-window look, and the business/cargo model even misplaced the rear home windows to simply appear to be a traditional van.

However nonetheless, between the two-tone paint job and brief overhangs (although a less-forward driving place than basic buses, a results of trendy security necessities), the ID. Buzz stays extra “enjoyable” than a traditional van. And it does have extra character than most minivans, and is much less boxy than different vans just like the Sprinter and Transit.

On the occasion as we speak, VW invited bus homeowners to point out up, and there was an enormous swath of them filling the car parking zone. Lots of them have been excited to see the bus coming again, however, like me, wished it carried over extra of the unique spirit of the basic bus. That mentioned, VW’s presentation leaned arduous into that basic bus tradition, so we hope it will possibly proceed to domesticate that and incorporate that spirit into the Buzz.

I do query, nonetheless, why North America can’t have the two-row model. It looks like everyone seems to be releasing a three-row EV this 12 months, as if immediately each American household gained two or three additional members that their European counterparts didn’t.

In some way, my household’s 180-inch camper slept my entire American household comfortably, regardless of being a foot shorter than as we speak’s providing – and it even had a kitchen, too. And a Westfalia proprietor I spoke to, who owned the identical car I grew up in, mentioned the identical factor: he wished they’d have introduced the smaller model right here, and earlier.

VW of America instructed us that they may choose both the brief or lengthy wheelbase for NA, and so they selected the lengthy one. They suppose it will match the market higher, and its myriad buyer sorts.

We have now a wierd obsession with greater autos right here, regardless of their monumental prices to society (e.g., hundreds of pedestrian lives). Some would say that Individuals merely demand bigger autos, however the issue is extra complicated than that – it’s largely pushed by poor regulation that incentivizes the upsizing of automobiles. Fortunately the EPA has proven indicators that it want to bend the needle again, however considerably slowly.

Till then, we nonetheless get a neat, retro-esque bus that appears prefer it might get some superior camper capabilities. However a few of us should still look ahead to a extra micro-version of the basic microbus, as a substitute of the maxi-micro-bus America is getting now.

And there are nonetheless some questions which might be but unanswered (value, vary), however I’m excited to see what VW does with this bus anyway – and to see what sort of cool modifications folks rise up to in providing potential camper variations and the like.