Revealed: 2024 Volkswagen ID. Buzz

[Hagerty]

Whether you slept in one at Woodstock, passed the many that once clogged the right lanes of America's freeways, or inherited one when your grandparents finally bought an Acura and moved to The Villages in Florida, the VW Microbus has spent six decades clattering into our hearts.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/revealed-2024-volkswagen-id-buzz/

[MattLaube]

Yawn....part of the allure of VW was that they were easy and inexpensive to repair (up to the 411 at least) had durable materials and were quirky enough to be fun. My 1980 Rabbit was more VW -esque ( even though it was a cheapened US model) than any after that incantation. They got more complex,the quality suffered, dealers got worse and VWoA could care less. Oh yeah..did I say it's ugly ..??? Expensive toy for those buying into the current electrocar illusion.

[Bostwick9]

VW has been lunching off the Beetle's reputation for decades now.

[KSZ28GUY]

I had the camper bus in college. 1600 duel port heads, big 2 carb, headers and HO ignition. For a VW bus it ran like beast. I could care less about EV version. Not in my life for many reasons.

[acooper529]

The original MicroBus was known for the look and the time period that it represented.
In the shop, it was just a cool looking rust bucket that really didn't do anything particularly well. The structure itself was marginal as was the steering, suspension and power train. But that's o.k.

A couple of us long hairs, bell bottoms, tie-dyed shirts, some beer and lots of weed smoke billowing from the passenger compartment.... and you had the whole picture.

The new deal is just another EV platform with something slightly different on top.
You can't recreate the original Bus, so maybe you should just be happy with what it represented.
PEACE OUT DUDES!

[rkeller]

All good except the front bumper grill thing. Can they give us any more little holes to try and keep clean. A small port and a more standard bumper would really be appreciated. This is something that may have looked different, therefore appealing on a piece of paper but in the real world this is going to be a pita and not the good kind

[DAdams]

By default it meets emission standards. Thus the big question for the Euro version - "How does it stand up to a DOT bumper test?" If it can take the barricade the Euro version should be a candidate for gray-market import for those who can't wait or just have to have one now.

[VolvoSleeper]

Hard to believe this is the best VW can do. As the owner of Bugs, Ghias, Porsche’s I’m terribly disappointed. Why not round throw back headlights, a modular interior and a scheme to increase range

[Gary_Bechtold]

From some angles I see the way obvious attempt to look like the old bus and other angles (front end holes) it is a bit over done. I'm kind of meh on this right now.

[TG]

Just like the (true) mini-truck, the microbus is a concept that time has left behind
This is a minivan, and I have yet to see an example of a minivan that does not have sliding rear doors that sells well
It also always seems to be the college kids who are into kooky-looking V-dubs, and I just don't see them being in the market for minivans

[TG]

On second look - I did not notice that what appeared to be suicide doors are actually sliding rear doors... Well, my second point is still valid

[RG440]

I found it odd that a driver/passenger sliding door on the passenger minivan and only a single slider on the cargo van? I’m sure the driver/passenger slider is an option but why not show it on a cargo van for its accessibility? Round headlights below the facial trim is my opinion.

[DougC]

Been waiting for this since, what? 2015? ("It won't be long now!"). Now, we have to wait another 2 years for the giant (non) economy sized version? Hard pass.

[MrBill-1943]

Owned a 1999 Turbo Beatle (Sweet Pea as it was a light green) and loved it having no issues all that time. Really like the Bus even though it is missing some of the old style lights etc. I also like the two tone paint offerings and wish American car makers would go back to two or three tones car paint selections like we had back in the 50's and 60's. If we hand a need or reason would seriously consider buying one even if it is EV.

[mfp4073]

Give us a short wheel base with all wheel drive.  Built in cooler.  Round head lights and fix the web on the front facia. And a 100' extension cord.  Yep!  I'm a hippie!

[jimliberty]

Give me a Split or Bay window with an H-4 in the rear. ......................Jim.

[Air_and_Water]

To me it's just weird that you can't use the headlight bucket as a footrest. 🙂

[LamboEd]

Not the same. Drive isn't sitting inches from the front of the bus! Needs a much bigger VW logo on front. No 23 window version? I'll pass...

[Bostwick9]

I keep my cars for a long time....40, 26 and 17 years.
How much will it cost to replace the batteries after 8 years or so?

[Oldroad1]

At least half the purchase price if not more.

[OptimusPrime]

My parents have owned a Toyota Prius for the last 12 years and over 170k miles. The only issue they've had with the car (and it's a big one) is with the internal-combustion engine which now needs to be replaced. Batteries are still going strong and would only cost a few grand to replace when needed years from now. Quotes on the ICE are double that.

[Jimmyo]

I have a friend with a 2001 Prius. It has over 300k miles and never needed anything major. It looks like hell, but everything works including the original battery. EVs have a 500k projected battery life.

[flowney]

My wife is very excited about this so I have to give it some serious thought. The first thing that comes to mind is that with a roof like that why aren't we reading about solar panels that charge the batteries as you drive or park in the sunshine. We're in Florida but I understand that the sun shines elsewhere as well - sometimes. Any ideas as to what the American price tag might be? How much extra for the solar roof?

[RG440]

Solar roof would be a plus ! And you nailed it, that the sun shines SOMETIMES, elsewhere as well…

[40Ford]

Nothing against the look of it or that it's electric, I just don't have a want or a need for it. And besides, I have enough ICE cars that I'm happy with.

[timb0]

Along with other friends, I would like to see a side by side by side with the 60's microbus, 80's Vanagon and this Elec bus.

[don-ennis]

Love it but not enough range. I'll pass.

[TRAGAR]

To me, this is the perfect form factor for an EV. I have found it remarkable that so many sedan shaped EVs are being offered given that there is no need for much of a front hood to house an IC engine. Ditto with the compact SUV look alikes. This is the shape of the future in a relatively nice package even though the lower front fascia is so puzzling. That said, a shorter version makes more sense for the short-range trips that EVs are capable of.

[majorbob]

Sorry gentlemen, I did not like the microbus when it hit the street in the 60’s and I don’t care for the new one. For those of you who do, have fun and good luck. However I will not be wasting my American dollars on this retread.

[Islander]

'perhaps the first entirely new car shape to come about strictly because of the switch to electric power.'
I'll give the engineers a thumbs-up for that. They got creative and got a decent result for an urban mover. Unlike the Ford E F150 that still looks just like an F150 - dorks.

[roadio55]

Perhaps the nose is flat, but it's not vertical! That would make it look like the original instead of trying to blend Beetle styling into the microbus package.

[Zephyr]

It's not a van, it's not even a mini-van, it's more like a Mini-Cooper. Not all that useful. With the original VW van you could literally pull the engine out while parked on the shoulder and do any necessary repairs right there. Long ago VW stopped competing with Ford and started competing with Mercedes and BMW, and the company's been going downhill ever since.

[FloridaMarty]

I wish VW would bring back the Karmann Ghia instead. And NO electric. Ugh.

[Air_and_Water]

They did, it's called the Audi TT. (I don't mean that to sound snarky.) It is exactly the same formula as the Beetle/Ghia, except that it has more performance and a shorter wheelbase than the Golf. The other difference is that they didn't have a different division in 1955 to sell a higher-end car.

[dd1]

I don't understand how VW is thinking. There's no appreciable nation-wide infrastructure for a massive influx of EVs right now. EV "fillings stations" are far and few. How can a family take a cross-country trip with so few charging stations? The U.S. is not Europe. Everything is so spread out and sparse in America. How will these things handle below zero temperatures of the midwest or the intense heat of the Arizona desert? How long will the batteries last before needing to be replaced? Who will service these things when they break? The technology is probably very complex. People will be at the mercy of a dealer when it needs to be fixed. It's all very odd to me. It's too much too quick without thinking things through. I have this feeling that big money politics and corporate greed is somehow involved in all of this. Sorry about my cynicism. I do hope that people who buy this really enjoy it. No nastiness intended. 🙂

[Air_and_Water]

There are more people today who could use an electric car (even with its limitations) than there are electric cars to sell. Will it be a problem in the future? Probably, but that's the future, and predicting it has a long history of being wildly inaccurate.

[Buzz]

Reminds me of a bad Elvis impersonator. Viva VW baby! It’s okay to pay homage to the old bus with a subtle wink in styling, but when the goal is to go back to the micro bus design to jumpstart an old market segment, you’d better lean more toward retro styling or you’re not going to make anyone happy. This van clearly doesn’t have an identity. It doesn’t know what it wants to be.

[Rick2]

Ok VW, you want to sell some of these things then give the people what they want! I want a short wheelbase with four wheel drive, knobs on the dash and if you are going to have that ugly front bumper with all of the holes in it put a range extending generator there. I might want to drive more than 200 miles.

[merlebalke]

Like it.

[Gary]

So why try to make it have some resemblance to the old van? Those that will be buying this have probably never even seen the older van or know that VW even used to make one.

[66Beetle]

If I've heard correctly with a MSRP of around 80K I can't see surfer dudes or campers lining up to buy it.  Definitely won't occupy the place in history held by the 60's VW bus.  But, I also predicted that the manual transmission would always be standard equipment with automatics optional on new cars so don't listen to me LOL

[corv3tte]

Looks good..... don't care for the rims though.....wouldn't buy it because it's electric.

[jaysalserVW]

VW did not learn with the New or the NEW-New Beetle. Now, not just a New Bus, but an EV New Bus? Where, O where have all the Engineers gone--long time passing?

[Rider79]

Give it an ICE, dump that ridiculous screen up on the dash (not much "heritage" in that), and then let's talk.

[RJB]

Please count me out on this one. Thank you.

[hyperv6]

It will sell fine and garner the media that it was intended to draw. 

This is just a vehicle to introduce EV products from VW. Like the Hummer it is to draw attention as this was never expected to be a high volume model. 

The Retro look will do well for 4-5 years and by then they will have a cheaper new volume model to take its place. 

One needs to keep perspective on what is expected with these first models. Higher prices and attention getting designs will pay off investments faster to bring the main stream stuff. 

[SJ]

Park it next to the Segway and Smart Car.

[farna]

bradfa says it all! 2nd car/commuter (work) car, electric is great! Primary family car? Not so much. Can't go but so far without a long wait, and can't pull a camper (even a small one) without killing range -- the main problem I have with electric trucks.

As for the Bus... it looks like an enlarged Mini or restyled any other crossover. Nothing special except nostalgia, and not really all that much except outer styling. The flat nose a bit unique, that's about all. Driver still sits behind the axle like any other car, not over/in front like the old bus (safer that way, of course...). Sort of like the new Beetle was originally, then they goofed up the looks by making it wider... though the roomier version was a bit more practical.

[Spookysgarage]

I REALLY like it. Way out of my price range, but it is pretty cool.

[Fleetline2]

I would rather buy an old VW bus with the conversions electric kit. Needs round headlights. Body looks like any other modern car. Reminds me of a monorail train. Go retro do it right

[Jimmyo]

VW will sell as many as they can make. I know that most of the people into classic cars often dismiss EVs and Hybrids and repeat misinformation or old information. But the reality is EVs and Hybrid sales have more than doubled in the past two years. I was a naysayer too until I drove a model3. I know know several people with EVs, and they park at home and plug it in at night. They leave home everyday with a full charge. They almost never use outside chargers. The appeal of this is the same as the Ford Lighting. It's not a basic sedan that happens to be electric.