Volkswagen is reimagining a classic with this electric buggy.
The German automaker continues to expand its I.D. lineup, this time with the I.D. Buggy. It’s a modern interpretation of the 1960s dune buggies that were all the rage in California. Now, in line with the times, this I.D. Buggy uses an electric drivetrain, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. At least, Volkswagen wants to market the buggy as fun and functional.
To that end, the I.D. Buggy has a fairly potent electric motor putting out 201 horsepower. It’s rear wheel drive, and gets a range of 155 miles using the WLTP cycle. To achieve that range, it has a 62 kWh battery pack — the same capacity as a long-range Nissan Leaf Plus. It’s built on the company’s MEB electric platform, which will also underpin the I.D. Buzz and I.D. Crozz models in the coming years.
For those who want to hoon around in the dunes, the I.D. Buggy also packs 9.4 inches of ground clearance into a fairly compact package. It’s 160 inches long, 74.4 inches wide and 57.6 inches tall. The I.D. Buggy has short front and rear overhangs, at 27.0 and 28.6 inches respectively. The Buggy’s wheelbase is 104.3 inches. On top of that, it also has BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires wrapping its 18-inch wheels.
On the performance front, the electric motor puts out 201 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. Mind you, that power is available the instant you put your foot on the throttle. Volkswagen pegs the speed at 99 mph. However, they claim you can get from 0-60 in 7.2 seconds. The company also states “it is also possible to fit a second electric motor in the front axle of the I.D. BUGGY. In this case, an ‘electric propshaft’ would distribute the power of the 4Motion four-wheel drive between the front and rear axles in fractions of a second. So, while the rear-wheel drive model is standard, adding in all-wheel drive may be an option.
Coming soon?
While the I.D. Buggy is simply a concept for the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, we’ll see if Volkswagen actually puts it into production. It looks like a fun recreation vehicle, with no roof or doors.
Volkswagen contends the I.D. Buggy presents an “opportunity for external manufacturers” Using this electric vehicle, the company aims for startups to build a wide range of custom vehicles. We’ll come back with any updates if Volkswagen decides to put this concept into production.
