Volkswagen ID. Buggy: Geneva 2019
All-electric beach car pays homage to the Beetle-based original - and could inspire a road-going model
So often are quirky versions of production cars shown at motor shows the idealistic dreams of designers, that it'd be easy to label Volkswagen's just-revealed ID Buggy as a case of pie in the sky. But, rather excitingly, this EV beach buggy concept is one that could actually go on sale according to its maker. How cool is that?
Ok, so Volkswagen has no plans to officially produce the model itself, but instead has categorically said that the underlying MEB platform - a skateboard chassis made up of the car's lithium-ion batteries and motor - would be available for purchase sans body, so an independent firm could build said buggy on top of it. This is the process that created the original Beetle-based buggy, which was first conceived as the Meyers Manx in 1964, after all.
Volkswagen's Geneva concept is therefore more of a pitch of what it believes possible - and appropriate - for such a vehicle. The MEB platform is modular, so the ID Buggy can come in rear or all-wheel drive, with the latter possible when a prop shaft is added. With this, the ID Buggy and its 204hp and 236lb ft of instantaneous torque can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds. Not bad. Range is rated at 155 miles and it takes half an hour of plug time to get 80 per cent of that.
This being a buggy, Volkswagen's not bothered to equip the car with a roof or doors - although there is a roll-over hoop for noggin-protection - and has instead given the car a simple, tub-like body that takes inspiration from the ID hatch and also the Manx. And while the concept car is a two-seater, VW reckons it'd be easy to produce a four-seat version, emphasising just how flexible these underpinnings could be.
The concept is a car for the 2020s, so naturally the ID Buggy has digital infotainment inside - hopefully with some form of waterproofing - with phone connectivity and the usual media functions. VW's decision to include this is probably to emphasise that its MEB base can extend beyond the bits that underpin and power a car. Will that be enough to tempt an aftermarket firm into producing a buggy or something similar? Hopefully. The beach fronts of California must be crying out for something like this.
Will the second hand market be the same for elec or will it be like mobile phones and laptops?
Unfortunately VW have a habit of showing Buggy concepts which never come to fruition.... https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/concept-cars/vw...
Unfortunately VW have a habit of showing Buggy concepts which never come to fruition.... https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/concept-cars/vw...
tbox production company.Single motor makes sense where it's used to supplement ICE in a hybrid installation where the car already has a heavy driveline. Latest Porsche 911 PDK transmission is said to have been built allowing space for an electric motor.
Others, such as mid-engine Corvette C8, may add a couple of front motors to a RWD car.
Single motor makes sense where it's used to supplement ICE in a hybrid installation where the car already has a heavy driveline. Latest Porsche 911 PDK transmission is said to have been built allowing space for an electric motor.
Others, such as mid-engine Corvette C8, may add a couple of front motors to a RWD car.
Having 4 motors means either mounting them in a hub, which would mean very small motors, which would be more vulnerable in an off road machine and increase unsprung weight. Or you need to remote mount them and connect to the wheels via driveshafts. But you'd need room in the vehicle to do this, which this buggy probably doesn't have.
4 motors will also need more sophisticated synchronization to make it driveable. Not a major issue with today's computer control, but is again another layer of complexity. It also has less redundancy, because if one motor fails (more likely on an off road vehicle), then it may make the vehicle largely undrivable.
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