In the history of motoring, there are few models that have been described as icons and, strange as it may seem, one of them is a van, the Volkswagen Bulli. Now, the new era for the Bulli has arrived, with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presenting the I.D. BUZZ CARGO prototype in a world premiere at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover (20-27 September).
The all-new I.D. BUZZ CARGO is expected to be launched in 2021. Until then, as a sister model to the successful "T6" and with Level 4 autonomous driving capability, it shows how an electric and fully redesigned and refined Bulli can write a new chapter in automotive history, taking the van range into a new era.
The prototype van to be unveiled in Hanover is an evolved version of the I.D. BUZZ, the prototype that wowed in 2017 when it was first unveiled and will hit the streets in 2022. The new I.D. BUZZ CARGO is designed to be very close to the model that will enter production. It has been jointly developed by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Volkswagen Passenger Cars placed more emphasis on the bus version and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles on the van version. Both are members of the I.D. Family - a new generation of fully connected electric vehicles with a range equivalent to today's petrol models, a sophisticated design DNA and impressive interior space.
Another unique feature of the I.D. family is the scalability of their battery capacity. The models can be delivered with batteries of different energy content, depending on vehicle usage and financial budget. The latter also applies to the future I.D. BUZZ CARGO, which, like all other models in the I.D. family, is based on the MBE (Modular Electric Drive Matrix), VW's new platform developed specifically for electric vehicles. With the MEB it is possible - depending on the size of the battery - to achieve a range of 330 to more than 550 kilometres. The I.D. BUZZ CARGO presented in Hannover has an electric motor with a power output of 150 kW. Its top speed is limited to 160 km/h. A four-wheel drive system is also expected, as in the I.D. BUZZ passenger car.
In the photo, on the left Dr. Thomas Sedran, Chairman of the Board of Management Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and on the right Heinz-Jürgen Löw, Member of the Board for Sales and Marketing Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
The electric propulsion system of the I.D. BUZZ CARGO consists primarily of an electric motor with power management electronics, a single-speed transmission integrated in the rear axle, the lithium-ion battery and the auxiliary units which are integrated in the front. The flow of high-voltage energy from the battery to the electric motor is controlled by the power electronics, which convert the direct current (DC) supplied by the battery into alternating current (AC). At the same time, a DC/DC converter supplies the car's electronics with 12 volts of current. The I.D. BUZZ CARGO can be equipped with batteries of different capacities, depending on the car's usage profile. If the van is expected to cover distances within the city on a daily basis, then a lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 48 kWh is recommended. If greater autonomy is required this capacity can be increased up to 111 kWh.
In terms of design, the I.D. BUZZ CARGO successfully continues the tradition of the original Bulli. Today, there is no other van in the world with a design that is so familiar, successful and unique. Over more than 7 decades and 6 generations, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has evolved the design, constantly discovering a new visual identity but without losing the DNA of the model. What characterizes the design of the I.D. BUZZ CARGO is the alternation of familiar and cunning elements of the Bulli's DNA. In particular, the front end with its characteristic "V" and traditional "friendly face" clearly depicts a Bulli - even though it is a completely new approach.
Instead of the round headlights of the original, the I.D. BUZZ CARGO has active LED light systems that not only turn night into day but also communicate interactively with pedestrians - as if they were eyes. Another defining element of the whole style is the small front projection, which also applies to the roof with its ingenious extension above the windscreen. In general, every detail has been revisited and evolved.
When it gets dark, a unique night-time image is created, with backlit illumination of the VW badge on the grille and combined with LED day and position lights on the headlights and front bumper. The image of the I.D. BUZZ CARGO is just as unique at the rear, where slim LED lights and large painted surfaces define the iconic design.
With the introduction of the I.D. BUZZ and I.D. BUZZ CARGO, the next decade will see the emergence of another range of multifunctional vehicles that complements the "T6" range - namely the Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California. This range will project the design of the archetypal van into the future, creating a powerful new variant of an automotive icon.
