Kombi comeback

Surfers and hippies rejoice – Volkswagen is bringing back the Kombi, or something like it anyway.

This version will be based on VW’s electric I.D. Buzz concept vehicle which goes into production as “the spiritual successor to the company’s iconic van”, known in the US as the microbus.

VW announced its decision during the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California, as the state played an important role in the Kombi’s history.

“The microbus has long been part of the California lifestyle. Now we’re bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle,” Volkswagen chief executive officer Dr Herbert Diess says.

The concept was revealed at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, and the electric four-door van is expected to reach showrooms in 2022.

It’s mainly targeting the US, Chinese, and European markets.

“The vehicle looks like a compact commercial van on the outside, even though it offers the generous interior space of a large SUV,” Diess says.

That’s because the batteries will be in the vehicle floor, the electric drive components require little room, and the vehicle’s long wheelbase with short overhangs provide considerable interior space.

The I.D. Buzz will take both people and freight.

“Along with a minibus version, we’ll also be offering an I.D. Buzz Cargo variant for zero-emissions delivery of goods,” Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles chief executive officer Dr Eckhard Scholz says.

“With Level 3 autonomous capability, this is an ideal concept for an electric van, particularly for delivering packages and goods to the inner cities.”

While production van technical specifications haven’t yet been released, the concept car is reported to have a 430km range, deliver 369 horsepower, and a 111kWh battery pack can reach 80% charge in half an hour.

The I.D. Buzz-based microbus will be built on VW Group’s new MEB electric vehicle platform.