Volkswagen has teased a futuristic concept of its iconic two-tone minibus.
It’s called the I.D Buzz and it looks genuinely glorious.
The zero-emission vehicle can seat eight people and has a raft of hi-tech
features, including an “augmented reality” display panel.
A “slight push” of the steering wheel will activate self-driving mode, allowing
the driver’s seat to swivel 180 degrees and join the party in the back.
In addition, each driver’s preferences – such as seat height and favourite radio stations – are linked to the cloud and activate automatically when you get in.
On to the Top Gear stuff; the Buzz can do 0-60 mph in five seconds and its
maximum speed is capped at 99 mph to save battery life.
The 11kWh battery can be charged to 80% within half an hour and the bus has a driving range of about 270 miles which is comparable to petrol and diesel cars.
And, in true on-the-road hippy style, the seats recline into makeshift beds,
allowing several people to slip in a quiet snooze at any one time.
The concept was shown off at the North American International Auto Show in
Detroit.
Dr Herbert Diess, from Volkswagen, said the company’s “big electric offensive” would begin in 2020 and promised a “completely new vehicle architecture”.
He added: “That is when we will be launching an entirely new generation of fully conected, all-electric vehicles to the market.
“We are making electric mobility the new trademark of Volkswagen.”
“Buzz” is a word play on “bus” and the low-humming buzzing sounds the electric motors will make, apparently.
The full self-driving mode is expected to be introduced in 2025.
