The revival of the Volkswagen Microbus comes in the electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Although it won’t enter production until 2022, there’s a bit we know about it so far. Like many other automakers, Volkswagen headed toward complete electrification; an iconic remake is logical. We’ve seen the revival of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wagoneer; why not the Microbus? Here’s everything we know so far about the Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric minivan.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz: design and style

What does the Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric minivan look like? The most recent spy photos no longer resemble the original concept art. The automaker showed off an electric bus that looked precisely like the retro version in January 2017. Since then, spy photos have revealed the vehicle has taken on a completely different look. The most recent images look more like a Ford Transit van than a Volkswagen Microbus.

The recent spy photos are likely a good indicator of the actual design of the vehicle. Since the sightings in Sweden near the Arctic Circle indicate extensive cold-weather testing, the ID.Buzz could be close to production. As a result, it’s highly likely the current design that strays from the retro-styling is the official look of the ID.Buzz.

What motor and electric range does the Volkswagen ID.Buzz have?

The official powertrain and specs for the ID.Buzz remains a secret. However, Volkswagen has dropped a few hints over the last few years, which gives us some ideas. Motor1 pointed out that the ID.Buzz Cargo concept uses a rear-mounted motor to make 201 horsepower. Additionally, it supports battery packs with 48 to 11 kWh capacities, allowing a maximum range of 342 miles.

For those reasons, it’s likely the standard Volkswagen ID.Buzz will have similar specs. If it does use the same powertrain, its range will be above average for a vehicle of its size. Consequently, it will lack power compared to competitors, but most owners prefer driving range to power in an electric Microbus.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz: features and technology

It is expected that the new electric minivan will have features and technology similar to the Volkswagen ID.4. Although their designs are very different, the two electric vehicles sharing features would be no surprise. Automakers tend to have the same qualities in similar vehicles, especially when they’re the only fully electric models in the lineup.

Only speculation can determine the included features like the powertrain and electric driving range. At the Consumer Electronics Show in 2018, Volkswagen announced a partnership with NVIDIA. The technology giant became a partner to incorporate its artificial intelligence system into the ID.Buzz. Features like recognizing the driver when they’re nearby to automatically unlock the doors, as well as voice and gesture recognition, are rumored to be a part of that AI.

When is the Volkswagen ID.Buzz release date?

The Microbus remake is set to release in Europe sometime during 2022. However, if you’re in the United States market, you’ll have to wait until the following year. The Volkswagen ID.Buzz will release as a 2024 model year toward the end of 2023.

That’s everything we know so far about the upcoming electric minivan, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz.