Volkswagen at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (Michigan, USA) demonstrated a concept minibus called I.D. BUZZ.
The new model of the ID family is a spacious all-wheel drive vehicle with electric motors on the front and rear axles, a fully automated ID Pilot driving mode and a new generation of controls and displays.
Volkswagen brand board member responsible for technical development, Dr. Frank Welsch, said:
"Concept car I.D. BUZZ is the car of the future built on the MEB electric modular platform. The model provides maximum comfort during operation and has the necessary space even for long journeys. In the new European test cycle (NEFZ), the range on a single battery charge reaches 600 km.”
The new energy concept car receives induction or using a charging station. With a charging power of 150 kW, charging the battery to 80% takes approximately 30 minutes.
The first model of the ID family (Volkswagen I.D.), which premiered at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, is also groundbreaking. The compact electric vehicle, which will hit the market in 2020, will have a range of up to 600 km and will be the first mass-produced vehicle built on the MEB platform. Volkswagen I.D. – the first conceptual model of the brand, capable of moving in a fully automatic mode.
New concept Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ is the first electric minivan in which autopilot is also possible. All it takes is a slight push on the steering wheel and it pulls back, switching the car from manual control mode to the fully autonomous ID Pilot mode, which will be available from 2025. Thanks to this function, the driver can turn his seat back and sit facing other passengers. A laser scanner, ultrasonic and radar sensors, Area View cameras and a front camera recognize the surroundings, and additional traffic information is transmitted via a cloud service.
The show car lacks the usual driver's seat. With the help of the AR Head-up Display, the electric vehicle projects all the important information in 3D mode into the driver's field of vision, creating a virtual image on the road. Features such as the infotainment and air conditioning functions are controlled via a removable tablet computer. However, the controls important for the driving process are located on the steering wheel. Its inside does not have the usual spokes and buttons, but is equipped with a touch panel – this is how a classic steering wheel turns into a multifunctional control panel.
No other electric vehicle uses interior space as efficiently as a concept car. I.D. BUZZ – the model has up to eight seats. With a variety of seating options and connecting the minivan to an interactive network, many new possibilities open up. At 4942mm long, 1976mm wide and 1963mm high, the extended MEB-XL platform creates an unbelievably spacious cabin for its class.
Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ becomes one of the most comfortable cars in the world. The electric car has a wheelbase 3300 mm long. The battery is located at the bottom of the car between the wheels, which lowers the center of gravity and ensures ideal weight distribution. Chassis Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ with adjustable shock absorbers provides the comfort characteristic of premium cars. Zero emission all-wheel drive with a total output of 275 kW/374 hp. (one 150 kW electric motor each front and rear) perfectly matches the dynamic nature of the show car. It accelerates to 100 km/h in about 5 seconds, the maximum speed of the model reaches 160 km/h.
New concept I.D. BUZZ fully reflects the development strategy of the Volkswagen brand. The strategy is based on four areas of innovation:
- Networked community: In the future, the brand will be able to connect people, vehicles and the surrounding infrastructure with the help of the Volkswagen User ID.
- Ease of use: Volkswagen pays special attention to creating vehicles with intuitive controls, functions and information display.
- Automated driving: Volkswagen will create models that will be even safer and more comfortable thanks to automatic driving.
- A well-thought-out sustainability concept: Volkswagen is successfully developing innovative electric vehicles for mass production.
Volkswagen Brand Chairman Dr. Herbert Diess said:
"Concept car I.D. BUZZ – modern, bright and future-oriented. We want to make electric mobility the new symbol of the brand and plan to sell a million electric cars annually starting in 2025. The range of the new e-Golf has already been increased by 50%. From 2020, the ID family will bring a new generation of fully networked electric vehicles to the market. These electric vehicles will be attractively priced and available to millions of buyers.”
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