HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The long-awaited arrival of North America's version of a modern-day Volkswagen Microbus is no longer far out, man.
The German automaker on Friday took the wraps off the retro-styled three-row 2024 ID Buzz electric bus here.
The ID Buzz sold in this market will have one more row than its European sibling that debuted in 2022, plus a longer wheelbase, a bigger battery and more horsepower. It is set to go on sale in the third quarter of 2024.
"The zero-direct emission ID.Buzz is the spiritual reincarnation of the Microbus, reimagined for our electric future," Pablo Di Si, CEO of Volkswagen of America, said in a statement. "It is practical, sustainable, and packaged in an unmistakably fun way that is classic Volkswagen. With its launch, the Bus will once again become our brand hero in America."
Though engineered as a modern electric vehicle, the ID Buzz stays true to the hippie-era Microbus' roots by incorporating a rear-mounted motor that generates 282 hp — a significant bump over the European model's 201 hp. Customers who opt for the dual-motor all-wheel-drive model get 330 hp.
The North American ID Buzz will have a 91-kilowatt-hour battery, compared with the two-row model's 82-kWh battery. VW estimates the rear-wheel-drive Buzz will have about 260 miles of range, while the awd version will get about 252.
The ID Buzz is practical and playful.
Its 192.4 inches in length — 7 inches more than the European model — boxy shape and short overhangs give it a degree of utility. Power sliding doors allow third-row access, and a power tailgate is standard. There are seven seats; with available captain's chairs, seating changes to six. The second and third rows fold flat, and the third row can be removed entirely, VW said.
The VW logo is illuminated, with a light line that extends to each side, connecting to the LED headlights, the automaker said. Bold colors such as Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow and Mahi Green are among the exterior paint options. Inside, 30-color ambient lighting is standard.
The panoramic sunroof is Volkswagen's largest to date — 67.4 inches long by 40.8 inches wide. Optional is electrochromic tinting, which changes from clear to opaque with the swipe of a finger.
Pricing information was not immediately available.
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