► New VW Microbus in ID style
► A member of ID electric car clan
► First teaser pics of new minivan
The VW I.D. Buzz concept has now been revealed in full at the Detroit show – click here for the full details and gallery
Volkswagen’s fledgling ID family is about to get a whole lot bigger – with the latest, hyper-roomy Microbus concept scheduled to make an appearance at the 2017 Detroit motor show.
VW calls it ‘a multi-functional vehicle for a new era’ and it’s plainly connected to the earlier Microbus show cars and BUDD-e shown at the CES tech show in spring 2016.
‘The concept vehicle forges links between the legendary origins of the Volkswagen brand and its electrifying future,’ admits VW.
So it’s based on Wolfsburg’s new Modular Electric Drive (MEB) architecture, with not a combustion engine in sight. Two e-motors provide all-wheel drive.
Great! When can I buy an electric 4wd Microbus?
Ah. Well, there’s a wait until all these conceptual flights of fancy are launched – but not a long one.
We expect the first members of the ID family to be launched by 2018.
Although these annoyingly restricted teaser images don’t show much of the new ID minivan, it is plain to see it’ll follow the clean, futuristic style of the hatchback shown at the 2016 Paris motor show.
It’s so modern, it’ll even drive itself. Prod the VW log on the steering wheel and the rim retracts into the dashboard, turning the ID into an autonomous pod controlled by laser scanners, ultrasonic and radar sensors.
Moia: making more sense of VW’s mobility future
Suddenly the VW group’s launch of Moia – a connected web of services linking apps, customers and autonomous electric cars – is beginning to make much more sense.
If the future involves booking a VW Golf GTI for a weekend in the sticks, then swiping left for a self-driving, mega-roomy Microbus for car-sharing the daily commute, count us in.
See what else will be at the Detroit auto show 2017 here
