A familiar face in motor vehicles, Volkswagen has captured the attention of the media and car fanatics everywhere with its plan to reinvent the iconic hippie and surfer-style van from the 60s.
The Volkswagen Microbus, also recognized by younger generations as the free-spirited hippie bus in Pixar’s movie “Cars,” is being recreated as an environment-friendly electric vehicle. The new model, the I.D. Buzz, is being advertised already, starting with the campaign “The Bus Is Back” to
Sparked by consumer interest, the news to bring back the bus, as well as a sneak
“The Microbus has long been a part of the California lifestyle,” Diess said during the conference. “Now we’re bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle.”
Although the exact design details have yet to be released, the new bus is said to include electric drive components, allowing for a surprisingly spacious interior.
“The vehicle looks like a compact commercial van on the outside, even though it offers the generous interior space of a large SUV,”
With the I.D. Buzz, VW plans to introduce a new slim chocolate bar-like battery that fits easily into the platform of the vehicle. Not only does this contribute to its spacious interior, its compact size will allow VW to easily upgrade the battery
By recreating the most iconic car in VW history,
“It was a car, but it was also a home on wheels, it was a mover of families, it was most reliable and unconventional and it was highly emotional, putting a smile on everyone’s face,”
The new model is looking to the future with its technological advancements, while also bringing back designs of the past,
As the automotive industry becomes more advanced, one factor that deters people from jumping on board is the connotation that new models are losing their personality and becoming too robotic in nature.
“Our industry is changing, it’s changing dramatically as the next generation of cars will be fully electric,”
As the foundation of the brand, alongside the Beetle, the Microbus’ journey back into production is a special one for VW, and it has no intention to disappoint, according to
“Our goal is clear: we want to make the fully electric, fully connected car a best-seller around the world,” Diess said. “The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen.”
Although the vehicle’s move to dealerships won’t be until 2022, Volkswagen has created buzz with its release of the plan and advertisement campaign.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.