Automobiles Review

Tag: ID.

  • Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB

    The ID.Buzz, a vehicle that brings good vibes like a rock song, has arrived. It’s the iconic electric vehicle that makes people smile. Now, the latest addition to the family is here: the ID.Buzz with a long wheelbase. It is “Made in Germany” for Europe, Canada, and the US. Volkswagen is making a comeback in North America with the ID.Buzz with a long wheelbase. The world premiere will be held on June 2 at Huntington Beach, a surfer hotspot near Los Angeles. It’s part of the biggest VW Bus festival in the USA, a tribute to the fans and the country. And as a generous gesture, June 2 will now be celebrated as “Volkswagen Bus Day” from New York to San Francisco.

    In just three weeks, the ID.Buzz will have its European debut in Germany. It will take place from June 23 to 25 at the international VW Bus Festival in Hanover, Europe’s largest VW Bus meetup. This marks the continuation of the bus tour.

    The VW bus left the USA and Canada 20 years ago with the T4 generation. However, it still has a cult following from New York to San Francisco. Even in 2023, the T1, T2, and T3 rear-engine generations are commonly seen at beach parking lots in California, Florida, and Long Island. Now, Volkswagen is bringing back the VW bus to North America with the ID.Buzz with a long wheelbase, this time as an electric rear-wheel drive, completing the circle.

    Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Volume, says: “Volkswagen is an extremely strong global brand with a great history, millions of loyal fans and legendary products. This is clearly evident here at the largest VW Bus festival in the USA. I am therefore delighted that the team at Volkswagen Group of America is celebrating the premiere of the ID. Buzz with long wheelbase here. With this model, we are taking a big step towards becoming a true love brand again.”

    Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America, underlines the importance of the electric VW bus for the US market:“The ID. Buzz and the USA – it’s a perfect match! The VW bus has a long history in the USA and enjoys real cult status. Our aim today is to further strengthen the Volkswagen brand in America. The ID. Buzz with long wheelbase is exactly the right model to fulfill this task.”

    Lars Krause, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, also says that the ID. Buzz is the comeback of a certain automotive feeling for life: “In the USA, Canada, and Europe, the VW bus has embodied a unique attitude on life for decades. The picture of the legendary T1 Lightbus in Woodstock is unforgettable. The DNA of this symbol of freedom lives on in our ID. Buzz. It is of utmost importance to us that we can now offer the people of North America a modern, all-electric new edition with the ID. Buzz in an iconic design.”

    The large ID.Buzz is perfectly suited for its launch in North America, measuring 4,962 mm in length and offering up to seven seats. Its extended wheelbase of 250 mm creates additional space for a third row of seats, providing a storage capacity of up to 2,469 liters. It also accommodates a larger 85 kWh battery, increasing its range, and features a heat pump for improved efficiency in winter. With a new 210 kW (286 hp) electric drive motor, the large ID.Buzz achieves a maximum speed of 160 km/h (European version: 150 kW, 145 km/h) and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds.

    For 2024, an all-wheel drive version called the ID.Buzz GTX with a power output of 250 kW (339 hp) is planned, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, making it ideal for merging onto highways.

    The large electric VW Bus introduces new features such as a head-up display, an upgraded next-generation infotainment system, and remote parking via smartphone. It also includes a high-tech panoramic sunroof with smart glass, reminiscent of the iconic Samba Bus from the 1950s. The smart glass can be adjusted from transparent to opaque using a touch slider or voice assistant. Additionally, the North American versions will have air-conditioned seats and an illuminated Volkswagen logo at the front.

    The first deliveries of the ID.Buzz in America are scheduled for 2024, and around the same time, the long-wheelbase version will be available in Europe. All ID.Buzz vehicles, including the Multivan and Bulli T6.1 models, will be manufactured at the advanced Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles plant in Hanover, which serves as the home of the VW Bus family.

     

  • Volkswagen ID Xtreme Concept

    Volkswagen presents the ID. XTREME in Ticino, an exceptional off-road concept car that will generate an enthusiastic response among the many electric mobility fans at the event. The fully electric concept car with all-wheel drive system is based on the ID.4 GTX and combines the strengths of a modern SUV with the sense of adventure embodied by a rugged off-road vehicle.

    The ID. XTREME01 from Volkswagen stands for maximum emotion and a desire for adventure. The concept vehicle was created by the team of Andreas Reckewerth (Head of overall vehicle MEB) in the Volkswagen Development department. “The modular electric drive matrix (MEB) has enormous technical potential,” says Silke Bagschik, Head of the MEB Product Line. “For many of our customers, vehicles are much more than just a means of transport. With the ID. XTREME, we are raising electric mobility from VW to a new performance level.” The result of the project is a unique off-road vehicle that impresses with its rugged appearance and outstanding power. A high-performance drive on the rear axle and software adaptations in the drive control unit increase the system power of the concept car by 65 kW to 285 kW compared with the ID.4 GTX02 – in other words, by about 30 percent. “The ID. XTREME is made by enthusiasts at Volkswagen for ID. enthusiasts here in Locarno. We are really eager to find out how the fans of electromobility react to the vehicle. Based on the feedback from our community, we will decide how to proceed with the project,” adds Silke Bagschik.

    The exterior of the VW ID. XTREME01 also shows that the vehicle is ready for every off-road adventure. Raised rally running gear, 18-inch off-road wheels, a modified crash member with additional front bumper, and 50 mm-wider wings manufactured by 3D printing combine to give the concept vehicle an authentic off-road look. The roof carrier with additional LED lights and the completely closed aluminium underbody also equip the fully electric all-wheel drive vehicle for excursions away from paved roads.

    Acoustically also, the ID. XTREME01 has something special to offer: the driving noise was developed together with Volkswagen Design especially for the concept vehicle and is output to the outside via a sound generator in the wheel housing. In the interior, the concept car impresses with various highlights, including numerous Alcantara applications, revamped seats and elements in the accent colour orange. And it goes without saying that the ID. XTREME is sustainable: a no longer required test vehicle from production development and a used 82 kWh battery were taken as the basis for the concept vehicle.

    Volkswagen is presenting the ID. XTREME01 to the public for the first time at the ID. Treffen in Locarno. The event by and for fans of electric mobility is taking place for the second time this year and could become the green and sustainable event for electric mobility modelled on the GTI meeting at Lake Wörth (Austria). This year, ID. enthusiasts from the whole of Europe are meeting up on the shore of Lago Maggiore from 6 to 10 September to share their experiences with electric mobility.

    Initiated and organized by private members of the ID. Drivers Club the ID. Treffen is supported by Volkswagen as part of its commitment to the way to ZERO. Together with experts from the company the team of the Volkswagen Drivers Club is attending the event to provide insights into the current developments in the area of sustainable mobility. Alongside the ID. XTREME01, Volkswagen is also presenting other models from the ID. family in Locarno.

  • Volkswagen ID. lineup overview: what makes it special

    2021 Volkswagen ID. SeriesThe ID lineup is definitely worth checking out. Especially after receiving the “2021 World Car of the Year” award. All the vehicles in the series come with a set of cutting-edge technologies on board and adopt the latest engineering concepts in terms of drivetrain systems. These features contribute to excellent performance rates, long-range coverage, and excellent safety.

    The battery technology in the ID. lineup

    Batteries are definitely the central part of the drivetrain system of all ID. models. VW team has announced that it will increase the sales figures for electric vehicles by 2030 and therefore focus on developing even better battery systems.

    The sizes in the lineup vary between 45kWh to 150kWh and depending on the model and other factors, an ID. model can cover up to 352km with a single charge. Furthermore, this output is enough to give a power output to the car and ensures between 150hp and 205hp.

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    Furthermore, the batteries can be charged to their maximum capacity in about 30 minutes – all models allow for AC and DC charging. When using a home charging station, the capacity is 11kW, depending on the battery size.

    Safety features

    Depending on the battery size, up to three controllers are located in the housing which monitors the module voltage and temperature levels. These units compensate for deviations in the capacity of the individual cells. The main control unit and the connection box are mounted at the rear of the battery body – in the event of a serious accident they can instantly de-energize the vehicle.

    Production and quality assurance

    2021 Volkswagen ID. Series

    The battery systems are produced at the VW Components plant in Braunschweig, where they are also developed. Other sites for production are Foshan and Anting, Chattanooga and Mlada Boleslav. In addition, preparations are underway for Volkswagen to start its own battery cell production in Salzgitter.

    VW team guarantees 70 percent of each battery’s capacity for a period of 8 years or 160,000km. Also, the used-up batteries can be reused under second-life schemes.

    Source: Volkswagen