Volkswagen is creating a buzz around the production version of the ID.Buzz concept, which is called ID.Buzz (minus the concept part, get it?). After showing camouflaged prototypes for months, the Wolfsburg-based company has released the first official images of what the van looks like on the inside. In its standard configuration, the Buzz will offer room for up to five passengers and about 40 cubic feet of cargo space. Buyers will have seven single-tone and four two-tone color options to choose from. We're told that some draw inspiration from the upholstery choices that were available on the split-window Bus that entered production on March 8, 1950. And, the two-tone options will match the paint; vans ordered in, say, orange and white will be available with orange and white upholstery. It's not full-on retro, but it's a nod to heritage. Volkswagen chose not to make the ID.Buzz available with leather. It replaced the material with other fabrics, including a type of cloth made from recycled products that's fitted to the seat covers, the floor coverings, and the headliner. The steering wheel's rim is polyurethane.
TranscriptZAC PALMER: So look what we have here, right behind me. This is the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Electric Microbus Revival in a very nice lime yellow. It's sort of a mix between green and yellow, has a really, really nice color to it. So this is the second time we've actually seen this car. It was revealed a month or so ago. And now, Volkswagen has brought it to the Big Apple, New York, for us to check out once more.
This is my first time doing it and, wow, I think that Volkswagen completely nailed it with this design. The two-tone, the lighting, just all of the minor detailing is really, really neat. Obviously, have the very short front end and Volkswagen bus style. I really like how they've done the venting down here, gives it some character as it's all in color. As we move along to the side, really, really great-looking wheels.
That white Volkswagen logo really, really pops on those. You can see these, looking like aero wheels, of course, because it's an electric car. And then you have a very slab-sided side to the van, of course, because, yes, this is a van. It's very box-like here. This one is the two-row version. The US will be getting a three-row eventually. So this isn't exactly what we'll get on sale here, but the general design will stay the same.
Let's move along to the back where we can check out the full-width tail light. And once again, the white ID.Buzz lettering and the white Volkswagen logo. I think it all looks really, really cool. The two-tone really makes this thing pop. I love the light. Just look at all of the little detailing in here. You can really tell that Volkswagen spent a lot of time to try and make this car look special, and I think it worked.
So how about we hop into the interior? Because I think it might be even cooler in there. Popping into the ID.Buzz interior. Wow. This is so cool. Once again, the two-tone stands out. You see sort of a yellow lime-ish materials on the doors, on the dash. And then a really nice-looking, almost open pore-like look wood. It does not feel like wood. This feels more like soft-touch plastic, which is fine.
And then as we look here, this is very familiar. It looks just like the Volkswagen ID.4, the infotainment system with the very frustrating climate controls that do not light up. They're very hard to see in the dark. And there's a pretty large screen that is-- well, it's quick to use, which is great. Volkswagen just has to figure out that center stack. And then right in front here with the steering wheel, you have a very small instrument cluster.
But it sort of has all the vitals that you need in an electric car, which I like a lot. At least there is a cluster, a big plus. [CHUCKLING] So, yeah, we should hop into the back seat, because this is a van. Power-sliding rear doors in this van. And we can see, well, that great color theme, really cool fabric on the seats continues back here, too. You'll actually see that this has some interesting-looking trays that you can fold out.
Maybe toss a drink or two on there. Do some work. I'm not sure what, but this is a feature maybe you'll see in some more luxury cars. Maybe there won't be a plastic tray in there, but cool nonetheless. And I just really want to point out there's a lot of color, and it's just fun and vibrant in here. Even on the seat-back pockets, this is a cool sort of greenish tone, similar to the seats. I just really, really love all of the detailing in here.
Volkswagen did a great job with this. I wish we didn't have to wait until 2024 to have it, but that's when it's coming to the US. Europe will get it sooner than us, so the wait is on. And I'm sure we'll see it at a few more auto shows after this one and continue drooling over it.
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