ESCAPE
HIGH ROAD
Magic BUZZ
VOLKSWAGEN’s upcoming ID Buzz people carrier captures the groovy vibe of the original By Howard Walker
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ull out your favorite psychedelic tie-dye, baggiest boho harem pants, and round sunglasses à la John Lennon because the VW bus is back. And I tell you, daddy-o, it’s really far-out. Volkswagen has reinvented the iconic, beloved, hippy-dippy Microbus. It’s called the ID Buzz and it’s all-electric. My reaction in four words? What took so long? This is an aesthetic masterpiece—a lofty-roofed people mover that captures the born-to-be-wild look and spirit of the original. Even better: It brings the design up to date with some very cool technology. The ID Buzz is based on the same electric “skateboard” platform used in VW’s new ID.4 electric crossover. When it lands on U.S. shores, it should have a range of around 300 miles and charge from 5 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. But it’s the design that’s so fun and funky. Google the boxy ’60s Microbus, and all the visual homages are there: the V-shaped front panel, that pizza-sized VW logo, the towering windshield up front, the two-tone paint—it even has its motor in the back. And it’s still as square as a loaf of bread, with mile-high sides and lots of windows. Sadly, there are no plans for the eight rooftop windows that came with the old Samba bus. However, a California camper is in the works, complete with a stove, sink, and lift-up tops for those nights in the woods or trips to Woodstock. Around back, that high-lifting tailgate is more upright than a barn door, with plenty of bodywork to attach that “If this bus is a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’!” sticker. The ID Buzz pictured here is the short-wheelbase Euro version. Nose to tail it’s about the same length as a Mercedes C-Class sedan, with just
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3/31/22 4:57 PM
