Unveiled in 2017, the ID Buzz concept has still not turned into a production model. But Volkswagen has just revealed a prototype with lines now close to the series, which also announces the arrival of a version ready for autonomous driving by 2025.
The return of an “old-fashioned” Volkswagen Combi and the arrival of 100% autonomous driving share somewhat the same status of Arles. Many times announced, these two events have also been repeatedly postponed. But today, Volkswagen allows them to make common cause, by presenting the prototype ID Buzz AD (Autonomous Driving) on the sidelines of the Munich Motor Show. Derived from the future 100% electric van of the brand, this van is supposed to be used from 2025 in Hamburg, as part of a driverless carpooling service. It is MOIA, a subsidiary of the group dedicated to new forms of mobility, which will be responsible for managing its operation.
Radar, camera and lidar festival
To fulfill its mission, the ID Buzz AD embeds eleven radars, fourteen cameras and no less than six lidars, these expensive measurement tools using laser technology. Enough to detect objects up to 400 m, including those that reflect poorly light like vehicles painted black. The autonomous driving system would be able to have a 360-degree vision to anticipate the actions of pedestrians, cyclists and the rest of the traffic. Before acting on the engine, on the braking and on the steering according to this information. Volkswagen was not alone in developing it, however. It drew on the experience of Argo, one of the world leaders in autonomous driving, who also works for Ford. This is by no means a coincidence since the German brand has also joined forces with the American manufacturer for the development of several future models, such as the next Ranger and Amarok pick-ups.
A less retro look than the concept
The other major interest of this prototype is to give a better idea of the look of the future ID Buzz series, expected for 2022. A van which unfortunately seems to have lost most of the neo-retro look of the 2017 concept. Only the very vertical front cover, in the extension of the windshield, still really evokes the first generations of the Combi. The rest of the silhouette has become much more cubic and classic. The whole thus no longer appears so different from the Multivan.
The ID Buzz will stand out above all from its brother by its only electric motors, thanks to the use of the recent MEB platform released by the compact ID.3, extended here to nearly 5 m. But those who hoped for a real return of the hippie favorite van will be at their expense. As for those who swear by autonomous driving, they will have to wait until 2025 to see if Volkswagen manages to keep its promises on the subject better than Tesla.
