Caught red handed cheating on emissions tests, Volkswagen is still struggling to obtain settlements in the "Dieselgate" scandal. However, the German firm is also looking to create a more sustainable future for itself by embracing electrification. Having announced a plan to launch several EVs over the next few years, Volkswagen is unveiling an increasing number of concept cars that feature electric motors instead of standard gasoline or diesel mills. One such vehicle is the I.D. BUZZ, which made its official debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show as an electric, multi-purpose vehicle based on the I.D. Concept hatchback.
Described as a next-generation vehicle that "forges links between the origins of the Volkswagen brand and its electrifying future," the I.D. BUZZ is based on the company’s new Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) platform and pays homage to the original Volkswagen Type 2, commonly known as the Microbus in the U.S. According to Volkswagen, the "BUZZ" name is a phonetic word play on "bus" and refers to the silent buzzing of the electric drivetrain.
"The Volkswagen brand’s big electric offensive begins in the year 2020 with a completely new vehicle architecture. That is when we will be launching an entirely new generation of fully connected, all-electric vehicles to the market. By 2025 we want to be selling one million of these vehicles annually. We are making electric mobility the new trademark of Volkswagen," said dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand.
There’s no word whether the I.D. BUZZ will become a production model anytime soon, but given that the Frank Welsch, who’s in charge of development of future models, referred to it as a "next-generation vehicle," it’s safe to assume that the Microbus will return sooner or later, albeit in all-electric form.
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen I.D. Concept Van.
from Top Speed http://ift.tt/2jZrszj
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