The long-wheelbase Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been spied undisguised, ahead of its debut in California this summer.
Looking eye-catching in orange, the electric van follows in the footsteps of the regular model but adopts a longer wheelbase and extended rear doors. This results in a more accommodating cabin, which houses three rows of seats.
Volkswagen hasn’t gone into many specifics, but the model will be larger than the standard ID. Buzz which measures 185.5 inches (4,712 mm) long and has a wheelbase that spans 117.6 inches (2,988 mm). That enables the short-wheelbase model to have room for five and haul up to 77.9 cubic feet (2,206 liters) of luggage.
More: America’s Long-Wheelbase VW ID. Buzz Caught Undisguised
Following its debut in a few weeks, the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz will arrive in Europe late this year in both passenger and cargo configurations. The van will then come to America in 2024, where it will challenge the Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna.
While some of those vans offer hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the ID. Buzz will be fully electric. We’ll learn full details shortly, but the standard van rides on the MEB platform and features an 82 kWh battery pack that feeds an electric motor developing 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 229 lb-ft (310 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 10.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 90 mph (145 km/h). The van can also travel up to 263 miles (423 km) in the WLTP cycle.
However, Volkswagen has previously said “more battery versions with various power output levels are expected to follow in 2023.” That suggests the van could be offered with the new APP550 drive unit, which debuted in the ID.7. It produces 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) and around 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque.
