You’ll soon be able to put in an expression of interest for Volkswagen’s retro-styled electric people mover and cargo van.
Volkswagen Australia has also confirmed when ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo models destined for our market will enter production.
“In Cronulla in October as part of a Kombi rally, we will time that to open the register your interest for Buzz,” confirmed a spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia.
“Buzz is now mid-year production and it will be in Australia before the end of next year [2024].”
While the lineup for Australia hasn’t been confirmed yet, there are two versions of the ID. Buzz that will be sold globally – a short-wheelbase van and people mover, along with a long-wheelbase version.
Currently, all ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo short-wheelbase models are rear-wheel drive and use a 77kWh (net) lithium-ion battery and a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 150kW of power and 310Nm of torque.
Range is up to 425km on the WLTP cycle and it can be charged at up to 11kW using AC power or 170kW on a DC fast charger.
Volkswagen also quotes a payload of up to 650kg for the ID. Buzz Cargo.
The longer version will likely be limited to higher-volume US and Europeans markets at first before making its way to Australia – but perhaps not for long given the company’s local arm is bullish on the retro special.
Volkswagen Australia has previously said it wants both the GTX and three-row model, noting around 30 per cent of T6.1 sales – which includes the current Multivan – are of all-wheel drive models and that a three-row variant is a “no brainer”.
“The ID.Buzz is a people mover that stops traffic, people stop, stare and smile. It’s an incredible blend of style and function that will capture the imagination of Australians – and is reflected by our ambitious sales volumes,” said Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicles director Ryan Davies in March this year, referring to the regular SWB.
The stretched ID. Buzz adds 250mm to the wheelbase and overall length (4962mm), making room for a third row of seats – making seven in total, up on the shorter model’s five.
The longer wheelbase also frees up space for a larger 85kWh battery pack, up from 77kWh in the launch model, with VW promising added range despite the extra weight being a factor, citing the fitment of a new efficiency-boosting heat pump.
For context, Volkswagen claims the standard wheelbase, single motor ID. Buzz has an energy consumption rate of 21.7-20.5kWh/100km on the WLTP cycle, which equates to a range of between 402km and 423km.
The larger ID. Buzz will also be available with a new rear-mounted 210kW electric drive motor, up on the shorter version’s 150kW.
This power bump is said to slash the 0-100km/h time to 7.9 seconds, down from 10.2s in the shorter version. The top speed has also been bumped from 145km/h to 160km/h.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive GTX version, with power output of 250kW (220kW in the shorter version), will follow. VW says it’ll complete the 0–100 km/h sprint in 6.4s.
