Well, right now next year
At the 2017 Detroit auto show, Volkswagen took the wraps off theID.
Buzz concepta microbus that combined VWs electrified future with design elements of its past.
The ID.3 might have been unveiled a few months earlier, but it was the ID.
Volkswagen
Buzz that got people excited for the automakers electric transition.
Now, four years later, VW Group CEO Hert Diess has tweeted, The legend returns on 03/09/22!
The microbus is back.
Volkswagen
Well, thats certainly worthy of a spot in the driveway.
Volkswagen
Powered By the Past
So much of car culture is based on nostalgia.
Actually, nostalgia powers about 90-percent of our current culture.
Why else would there be 700 Star Wars movies, shows, animated series, and video games?
That gives the ID.
If thats what gets people into EVs, wonderful.
If theres anything that gets drivers to appreciate electric vehicles, its driving one.
Some of these microbuses will likely get repainted with paisleys and flowers and a peace symbol here and there.
This is what was expected.
The Weird Outdoorsy Now
Then the last two years happened.
Suddenly, flights seemed too risky, especially for those with children.
At the same time, van life was on the rise.
Modern-day vagabonds taking to the road in converted vans powered by wanderlust and Instagram likes.
EV Van Life
Thats the world the ID.
Buzz is being dropped into.
A place thats completely changed from when the concept was unveiled back in 2017.
A world thats beginning to embrace EVs.
Buzz sometime this year).
Theres always something that has to change.
Usually for regulatory reasons.
But even though some of the styling is squelched a bit, the ID.
Buzz is being dropped into an outdoorsy, road-tripping world.
When the concept was revealed, VW said it would have a range of 373 miles.
Thats likely based on the very lenient European standard.
That said, getting one might be tough.
Thats right, a pickup that no one outside of GM has ever driven has a six-figure price tag.
When reservations opened for the vehicle, itsold out in 12 minutes, according to GM CEO Mary Barra.
Thats for a vehicle that didnt have half the hype of the ID.
So if youre interested in the bus, youll want to be online the moment reservations are opened.
If theres anything that gets drivers to appreciate electric vehicles, its driving one.
Its not as cool as an ID.
Buzz, but its still a van that can be customized to your liking.
Also at CES 2022, Chrysler announced that its entire fleet would beEVs by 2028.
Buzz has sort of stumbled into being the perfect vehicle for the times.
A nostalgia machine thats built for the very weird and sometimes confusing modern world.
Then one of two things will happen: reservations will open up right away, or they wont.
Either way, Ill have my credit card ready for a deposit.
Because, suddenly, Im all about that van life.
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