By Sue Mead
Huntington Beach, California: A California beach was the perfect place to hold the world reveal for the spiritual reincarnation of Volkswagen’s Microbus. It was macro-cool and a veritable love fest for the “love brand,” said Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen of America, referring to the VW marque, when he took to the stage to present the all-new 2025 ID.Buzz.
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2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Calling the venue ‘Surf City USA’ and dubbing the June 2nd unveiling as the International Day of the Bus, VW welcomed a cadre of journalists from around the globe as well as hundreds of ‘Bus’ owners who proudly displayed their personal vintage models that pay homage to the Transporter (Type 2) that rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg, Germany, in 1950, and was used as a utility van at the VW factory (Type 2 was the second VW model ever built -Type 1 was the Beetle). Worldwide, this beloved vehicle went on to be known as a Bus, Camper, Bulli, Samba, Splittle or Camper Van, and was last sold as the Eurovan 20 years ago. It became a symbol of the American counterculture movement, and was an iconic staple in film, music, fashion, and entertainment.
The new minivan-like EV keeps this legacy alive and is designed to bolster Volkswagen’s ID electric-vehicle sales in North America. The three-row battery-driven Microbus has been tailored for the North American market, while the two-row version has been a success in Europe, where it went on sale last year. The North American-market ID.Buzz has a longer wheelbase than European models; the added room provides more space for people and cargo. It also has a higher-capacity battery (91 kWh) and more horsepower (282 hp for rear-drive variants and 330 for AWD). It’s expected go on sale in mid-2024; early estimates predict it will be priced starting between $40,000-$60,000. A camper version is planned to follow.
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The newest Bus is an amalgam of retro design cues that mix some of the visual and historical DNA of the original models, such as a boxy shape with a slab nose, an oversized VW logo, short overhangs, and the available two-tone color palette. Volkswagen designers blend these ingredients with modern enhancements, like the tailored interior, cutting-edge EV technology, and advanced driver-assistance features. The ID.Buzz is the length of the brand’s compact Tiguan crossover, the width of the midsize VW Atlas Cross Sport, and five inches taller than the midsize Atlas. (The original bus was the length and width of the Beetle.) It comes with a pull-out rear seat, and VW’s marketers and designers say it’s targeted to “anyone and everyone, but especially families and people who need a three-row vehicle who want to be seen as cool.” Seating for seven is standard, while captain’s chairs are available, with seating for six.
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Like the original Bus, the new model has a rear-mounted powerplant, which VW says aids in traction, performance and agility. The efficient ‘skateboard design’ with the battery mounted in the floor also saves space and brings better handling, as a large percentage of the vehicle’s weight is situated down low in the platform. The Buzz uses a multi-link rear suspension and struts in the front. The new APP550 rear-mounted motor is a PMS (permanent magnet synchronous) design with a maximum torque output of 406 pound-feet, and is mated to a one-speed automatic transmission; top speed is electronically limited to 99 mph, up from the two-row’s 90 mph.
The iconic oversized VW logo is illuminated, and is connecting to the LED headlights. Exterior colors with the available two-tone color palette include Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, Mahi Green, Cabana Blue, Metro Silver, and Indium Grey.
There are three interior color and trim choices: dark brown and black combined with dark brown leatherette seats with white piping, blue door inserts and a dark wood-look dash, paired with black headliner and décor pieces; a light grey and clay motif with light grey leatherette seats and clay-colored piping, clay door inserts, a light wood-look dash, and light grey décor pieces; and light brown leatherette seats with yellow piping, light grey door inserts and a washed wood-look dash, paired with black. Ambient lighting with 30 colors is standard with five preset moods, or the option to individualize lighting in different areas.
“The zero direct emission ID. Buzz is the spiritual reincarnation of the Microbus, reimagined for our electric future,” said CEO Di Si. “It is practical, sustainable, and packaged in an unmistakably fun way that is classic Volkswagen. With its launch, the Bus will once again become our brand hero in America.”
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Notable features:
Outside: Dual power-sliding rear doors with easy access to the third row, fully-powered classic sliding windows; standard power-folding and heated side mirrors; standard power tailgate with ability to open or close the tailgate with a foot wave under the rear bumper; proximity unlocking and keyless entry with illuminated door handles on the front; D-pillar air “vents;” and aerodynamically optimized 20-inch wheels.
Inside: Retro-inspired wood-optic dash; whimsical Play and Pause pedals from the 2016 BUZZ concept; removable center console with flexible storage on top and two unique dividers that double as a bottle opener and ice scraper, two additional compartments below, and available panoramic glass sunroof with electrochromic tinting, which changes from clear to opaque with the swipe of a finger.
Full perforated leatherette seating, standard 12-way power driver and passenger seats with dual armrests, ventilation, massage, and memory functions, heated front seats and outboard second-row seats, heated steering wheel and windshield washer nozzles, 60/40 split second-row seats with seat backs that can be raked by 16 degrees-the bench can be moved fore and aft by up to 7.9 inches, and moved forward by 4 inches at the touch of a handle to allow for better third-row egress. The second and third row seats fold flat, and the third row can be removed. An available Harman Kardon premium audio system with 14 speakers (nine speaker are standard), two screens: the 5.3-inch ID. Cockpit, behind the steering wheel, and the 12.9-inch central infotainment display, standard wireless App-Connect, wireless charging, eight USB-C ports throughout the vehicle, a 110-volt outlet under the passenger seat, and 12-volt charging in the cargo area.
Standard is IQ.DRIVE driver-assistance technology, featuring hands-on Level 2-ready capability features including lane centering, obstacle alert, standard Dynamic Road Sign Display, and available head-up display, Park Assist with remote parking, and Area View camera.
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2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Gallery
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