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“Iconic” is an overused adjective , but in the case of the Volkswagen microbus, officially the “Type 2 Transporter,” it’s a fitting one. The van, indelibly linked to the 1960s, carries a shape that’s almost universally recognized, and despite its shortcomings, restored examples of early Type 2s continue to sell for six-figure prices. Volkswagen hasn’t sold a bus here (excluding the Chrysler-built Routan minivan) since 2003, but thanks to the popularity of the brand’s I.D. Buzz concept, that changes for the 2022 model year.
Announced during the recent Monterey Car Week, Volkswagen will be building a microbus for the 21st Century, targeting the North American, European, and Chinese markets. Unlike the original, this version won’t be underpowered, and it won’t even use an internal combustion engine. The I.D. Buzz, assuming the van makes it to market with the same name, will be battery-powered, propelled by a pair of electric motors – one in each axle – producing a combined 369 horsepower and delivering the sure-footed traction of all-wheel drive.
An icon of '60s counterculture gets rebirthed and modernized for 2022.
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Re: The VW Microbus is Back, But This Time It’s Battery-Powered
