Volkswagen has a plan to win back drivers: reinvent the most famous seventies van in an electric format

After the debut of the expected ID. Buzz (in its passenger and commercial version) last March, the variant of up to seven seats called ID now reaches the Volkswagen family of electric vehicles. Buzz Long Wheel Base (LWB), which wants to reinterpret the spirit of the legendary Volkswagen T1 from the 1950s in a big way .

In addition to having three rows of seats and measuring up to 25 cm more than the five-seater version , the ID. Long wheelbase Buzz LWB brings important new features in terms of powertrain, batteries and equipment. This peculiar modern mini “Samba Bus” will not only make its landing in the US, but its arrival in Europe is scheduled for 2024.

New engine, higher capacity battery... and a 4x4 version

The first details of this ID have already been revealed. Buzz LWB (which will be the only variant that will be available in the US market ) within the framework of the first #VWBusDay in the US, although its international debut will take place this afternoon 'online' (6:30 p.m. in Spain) and can be followed live on this brand website.

At the moment we know that, unlike the ID. Standard Buzz (measuring 4.7m long, 1.98m wide and 2.98m wheelbase), the new ID. Buzz LWB will measure up to 4.96 m long, gaining more wheelbase to the already spacious electric minivan.

This allows the addition of the third row of seats, which can be configured as six or seven seats (arranged as "2+2+2" or "2+3+2" respectively). In addition, in the case of opting for individual seats for the second row, these could be revolving.

Except for being longer and, therefore, having sliding rear doors that are up to 19 cm larger, we find hardly any aesthetic differences between the ID. Buzz LWB and the standard, beyond details such as the windows incorporated into the glass of the doors themselves.

As for trunk capacity, it grows to 1,340 liters (1,121 in standard ID. Buzz) and with the seven seats occupied, it will be about 306 liters.

In the electrical system section, the new ID. Buzz LWB also brings news, as it will debut a 286 CV (210 kW) engine. In principle, this can be powered by the ID's 77 kWh battery. Standard Buzz or for one of 85 kWh net , as in the case of the ID.7. In both cases, the traction is rear.

At the moment the brand has not confirmed autonomy figures, but it has talked about the improvement of benefits: the ID. Buzz LWB will have a top speed above the 160 km/h threshold and 0-100 acceleration is estimated at 7.9 seconds, compared to 10.2 for the standard (with a 204 hp or 150 kW engine). ).

For its arrival on the market in 2024 on both sides of the Atlantic, the range could add the high-performance variant with the surname 'GTX' , which in addition to all-wheel drive may have an electric heart of 340 CV (250 kW).

As for the multimedia and navigation systems, no major innovations are expected in the passenger compartment, although they are in the equipment and optional section.

And it is that, in a clear tribute to the classic Samba, the brand has revealed that the ID. Buzz LWB will be able to equip a new panoramic roof with a 1.5 m² glazed surface , "whose degree of opacity can be regulated by means of a control" and which, without a doubt, will be the largest of its kind. In addition, the heat pump will be part of the standard equipment.

In addition to his virtual debut, the ID. Buzz LWB will be present at the "Volkswagen Bus Festival in Hannover", the largest meeting of the brand's vans on our continent, which will take place in Germany on the weekend of June 23-25.