• Swindon & Wiltshire Motors
• Tuesday March 15 2022
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Volkswagen unveils its long-awaited ID Buzz van

Volkswagen has unveiled its retro electric van, the ID Buzz Cargo.

The van takes its retro design from the timeless 1960s Type 2 camper.

And while plenty of fans felt an overwhelming need to grab a surfboard and head for the beach in one, the Buzz has serious business implications too – as an eco-friendly, clean air zone-busting way to get stuff around.

Unveiled at the same event as a five-seat MPV ‘bus’ version, the Cargo dispenses with the MPV’s three back seats to offer a 3.9 cubic metres of cargo space – somewhere between that of VW’s Caddy Cargo and T6 Transporter.

The load area – large enough for two euro pallets – is accessed via a wide-opening tailgate and a sliding door on the passenger side.

There’s a maximum payload weight of 650kg and the load sill is 632mm high.

The ID Buzz Cargo is powered by a 150 kW electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The top speed is electronically limited at 145mph, and the battery can be charged to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

And the retro-styling is bound to be a head-turner, with twin tone colour schemes, and a big VW badge on the bonnet: just like the 60’s icon that inspired it.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars chairman Ralf Brandstätter called the Buzz “a genuine icon for the electric era,” while Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles chairman Carsten Intra said it was “part of the future of inner-city transport.”

The Buzz will be rolled out across Europe in the autumn. Prices and driving range have yet to be confirmed.