Tuesday, August 29, 2017

RAM SPONSORS MICHIGAN STATE FAIR AND SPONSORS RIDES IN RAMS





Labor Day weekend is just around the corner and for those looking for something fun to do, look no further than one of Michigan’s best festivals – the Michigan State Fair. Ram Truck, the presenting sponsor, will add to the excitement by inviting attendees to experience the power, capabilities and performance of the award-winning Ram truck lineup at the Ram Truck Experience off-road test track.

The Ram Truck Experience will be open during all five days of the State Fair, from August 31 to September 4, making Ram’s test track one of the many attractions for State Fair attendees to enjoy.





Participants will be given rides with a performance driver in Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks. The experience includes an obstacle course that demonstrates the various truck capabilities, including a 30- degree wedge to demonstrate traction; rocks and logs to demonstrate articulation and stability; bumps to demonstrate suspension; and a Ram Mountain to demonstrate the ground clearance, approach and departure angles.








Upon completion of the ride, participants will receive a commemorative Ram hat.

Ram recently signed a three-year contract to be the presenting sponsor of the Michigan State Fair.

“Ram is proud to be a partner of the Michigan State Fair, a long-standing tradition that celebrates the importance of farmers and farming communities to our state,” said Jeff Hines, Director of the Great Lakes Business Center – FCA US LLC. “The Ram Truck Experience test track is always a crowd pleaser and we welcome the opportunity to bring this exciting event to the fair so participants can experience the power and capability of Ram trucks.”

There is no additional fee for State Fair attendees to participate in the experience.

Ram Truck Experience Hours
Thursday, August 31: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, September 1: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 2: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 3: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Monday, September 4: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

The Ram Truck Experience will be located near the Giant Ferris Wheel, across from the Detroit Shrine Circus, at the Michigan State Fair, located at 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi. For more information about the Michigan State Fair, visit www.MichiganStateFairLLC.com.

Ram has been a long-time supporter of farmers and the American agricultural industry. Many Ram truck owners are farmers or live in farming communities. They work and live in rural America and provide vital resources to our nation. The uniquely American “farmer spirit” conveys the spirit of the Ram Truck brand. On a daily basis, both the Ram brand and farmers value courage, dignity and setting examples through hard work.

About the Michigan State Fair 
The original Michigan State Fair, which debuted in Detroit in 1849, was one of the first statewide fair events to take place in the United States. It moved permanently to its home at the Michigan State Fairgrounds on Woodward Avenue in 1905 and was staged there until 2009, when it was discontinued by a resolution of the state government, due to ongoing budget issues. The Michigan State Fair, LLC is now produced by a private entity, and presented by Ram Truck, an FCA US brand. The 2017 Michigan State Fair has a deep commitment to the ongoing development and support of agriculture, small business and family entertainment, while preserving the legacy and beloved traditions of the original State Fair. For more information on the Michigan State Fair, please visit www.MichiganStateFairLLC.com.





 
REVIWED AND EDITED BY STAFF

BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH

2018 BMW i3 AND NEW SPORT VERSION i3s


 

According to BMW their  i3 is the bestselling compact battery-electric vehicle in the premium compact segment worldwide since it was launched in 2014. The design of the new BMW i3 and the exclusive first-ever BMW i3s has been altered to enhance the sporty, urban built yet elegant design of the model. Featuring a wider track, wheel arch molding and design lines that are vastly horizontal, the 2018 BMW i3 models have morphed into a versatile, urban, innovative efficiency mobility vehicle.  BMW also offers a more powerful and sportier version of the BMW i3.






The BMW i3 leads the way to a new era of mobility. It is recognized worldwide as a symbol of technology, sustainability and intelligent connectivity in the urban traffic environment, which is why it has become the best-selling electric car worldwide in the premium compact segment. The success of the BMW i3 has been enhanced thanks to refreshing styling accents, cutting-edge equipment features and new digital services, but also to the addition of a new model variant – the first ever BMW i3s. The 2018 BMW i3 models will also be available with a Range Extender. BMW states both models of the I3 offer premium-quality, all-electric driving experience, meaning zero emissions and performance, in combination with the latest available connected technology.

A two-cylinder range extender gasoline engine is available as an option for all BMW i3 models. The engine drives a generator that produces power as required to feed electricity to the high-voltage battery, which becomes available whenever necessary. This extends the car’s overall range in everyday use by 87 miles, increasing it from around 97 miles to a maximum of 180 miles (Preliminary figures.).

This car’s architecture was designed from the ground up with electric mobility in mind. Combining the latest technological innovations with an evolutionary development of the car’s design and the expansion of the model range has provided additional impetus for BMW’s now familiar take on premium electric mobility. The character profiles of the new BMW i3 and first-ever BMW i3s are focused more on driving experience, which gives them all the ingredients required to strengthen their leading position in e-mobility and the BMW i success story.



The BMW eDrive technology enables drivers to enjoy emission-free mobility with instantaneous power delivery, efficient use of energy and an optimized range for everyday practicality that even extends beyond the demands of purely urban travel. The BMW i3 and the more powerful BMW i3s draw their energy from the lithium-ion high-voltage battery developed by the BMW Group with a cell capacity of 94-ampere hours (Ah).

The first-ever BMW i3s features a sports suspension with specially developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. Drivers can now also select SPORT mode using the Driving Dynamics Control switch. BMW states this initiates more direct accelerator response and tighter steering characteristics to accentuate the car’s sporting edge. Just 6.8 seconds1 is enough to see the BMW i3s burst past 60 mph on its way to a top speed of 100 mph.

 The agile handling characteristics of the BMW i3 have been enhanced with the improved Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system. This  revised, faster responding Traction Control system guarantees confident handling under all driving conditions. Traction in less than ideal driving conditions has also been noticeably improved. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) mode now boosts agility at higher speeds and during sporty cornering, even allowing mild and safely controllable drifts when grip levels are reduced.

The synchronous electric motor powering the new BMW i3 generates a maximum output of 170 hp. Its peak torque of 184 lb-ft is available instantly from standstill, in typical electric motor fashion. This means that stepping on the accelerator pedal immediately unleashes a thrilling burst of speed. The motor smoothly delivers the kind of performance that drivers expect from a BMW via a single-speed automatic transmission, with continuous power delivery that builds up the car’s speed. The new BMW i3 accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in 7.2 seconds with an electronic top speed of 93 mph.




Buyers will have the option of ordering a 100% all-electric version of the i3 or one equipped with a two-cylinder range extender gas engine. Both versions have their wheels driven entirely by the city car’s electric motor which is paired with a single-speed transmission.

The i3 delivers 184 hp and 199 lb-ft, and the motor adds several performance-enhancing features such as taper roller bearings and a modified electronic controller. It cuts launch times down to 6.8 seconds and the top speed as stated above is 100 mph.

BMW claims a range of 97 miles for the all-electric i3 with the 94 amp-hour battery, the range-extender boosting that to 180 miles before a motorist needs to tank and charge up.



The first of its kind and more powerful BMW i3s incorporates a number of design elements all of its own that highlight its particularly dynamic character. Both the front and rear aprons are notable for their model-specific, powerfully shaped contours. At the front, the bumper inlay and its U-shaped surroundings are in black finish. The front fascia’s side sections are bordered on their lower edge by accent strips in BMW i Blue or Frozen Grey that emphasize the width of the car, complementing the front fascia. The accent in the closed BMW kidney grille is also painted in high-gloss black to give the grille a more prominent appearance. The rear apron of the first-ever BMW i3s is likewise composed of individually styled contours, while the black surround frames an extra-wide, body-colored inlay. On the first-ever BMW i3s, the roofline accent also sports the same high-gloss black finish as the A-pillars.


Visually, the 2018 i3 updates are relatively modest and meant to give both versions what BMW calls “a wider and sportier look.” The original versions “Black Belt,” which ran across the back of the city car, is now complemented by a black finish roofline and A-pillars. The nose has been tweaked to broaden the car’s stance, and accents new, standard-issue LED low and high-beam headlamps.

Like the exterior design, the interior styling of the new BMW i3 and first ever BMW i3s is rooted in the LifeDrive vehicle architecture. The carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell has a wonderfully spacious feel about it and is dominated by a sense of lightness. The design principle of the two four-seater models means there is no need for either fixed B-pillars or a transmission tunnel. Doors that open in opposite directions allow the occupants to get in and out with the greatest of ease.

The Mega, Giga and Tera World equipment lines are available for the new BMW i3 and first ever BMW i3s as alternatives to the standard Deka version. The optional Giga World includes a new trim for the seat surfaces in Giga Brown Natural Leather & Carum Spice Grey Wool Cloth which combines natural leather tanned using an olive leaf extract with a wool-based textile material. The BMW i3 and BMW i3s apply the concept of sustainability throughout, as other materials used are recycled plastics, renewable raw materials, natural fibers and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood. Over 80 percent of the surfaces visible to the passengers are made from recycled materials or renewable resources. The available seat belts in BMW i Blue for the first ever BMW i3s only, provide a splash of color in the interior. Typical BMW i Brand lettering are also visible on the front floor mats.


A package of new services were introduced in early fall under the BMW Connected+ umbrella which enable a highly personalized digital experience. All of the digital services related to BMW Connected and BMW Connected+ will be available in the BMW i3 and BMW i3s. These span intelligent route planning, including stops at charging stations or gasoline stations in the case of the range extender (Send my Routes to Car), sharing of the car’s current location via SMS and live link (Share Live Trip Status). Also part of the Connected portfolio features personalized display of relevant in-car information (BMW Onboard), seamless transfer of route instructions to the customer’s smartphone or smartwatch once the car is parked (Navigate Door-to-Door) and direct syncing of contacts and addresses to the navigation system (My Destinations).


The enhanced BMW i ConnectedDrive offering ensures intelligent connectivity through services specially tailored to electric mobility. The On-Street Parking Information search service, now available for the first time in the BMW i3, can also be used alongside the Advanced Real Time Traffic Information (ARTTI) system with the optional Navigation system Professional. On-Street Parking Information helps drivers locate available parking spaces in many major US cities. It uses historical and real-time data to determine the likelihood of finding vacant parking spots in a given area and displays the information on Navigation Map. Specifically designed for BMW i, public charging stations and information about their availability can also be displayed on the navigation system’s map. When route guidance is activated, data about the route is also used to calculate the range shown in the instrument cluster as accurately as possible. Standard on the i3, the range map provides a visual representation of the current operating radius. With Navigation Professional, the dynamic range map draws a boundary representing the maximum range the vehicle could travel on its current charge status. It is also possible to display the different ranges achievable in each of the Driving Dynamic Control modes. BMW i-specific navigation features also include intermodal route guidance. This helps users to quickly and efficiently reach their destination by factoring in local public transport timetables and connections. Regular, automatic updates of the navigation data are now also provided “over the air” in the BMW i3, using a mobile network connection.


Power consumption and CO2 emissions for the BMW i3 (94 Ah):
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 0
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 0
Power consumption in kWh/100 km: 13.6–13.1
Electric range in km (combined): 300–290
Customer-oriented electric range in km: up to 200

Power consumption and CO2 emissions for the BMW i3 (94 Ah) with Range Extender:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 0.6
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 14–13
Power consumption in kWh/100 km (combined): 11.9–11.5
Electric range in km (combined): 235–225
Customer-oriented total electric range in km: up to 330

Power consumption and CO2 emissions for the BMW i3s (94 Ah):
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 0
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 0
Power consumption in kWh/100 km: 14.3
Electric range in km (combined): 280
Customer-oriented electric range in km: up to 200

Power consumption and CO2 emissions for the BMW i3s (94 Ah) with Range Extender:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 0.7
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 14
Power consumption in kWh/100 km (combined): 12.5
Electric range in km (combined): 220
Customer-oriented total electric range in km: up to 330

These values are provisional figures and have not yet been confirmed.
The figures for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption depend on the wheel and tire sizes selected. Consumption data is determined in accordance to the ECE driving cycle.

The driving range depends on a variety of factors, especially: personal driving behavior, selected route, weather conditions, usage of heating/cooling and preconditioning.



The pricing for the 2018 i3 and i3s is unknown. Presently BMW i3 starts at $42,400 with a short-range 60 Ah battery, $44,450 with the 94 Ah pack, and $48,300 for the 94 Ah battery with range-extender engine.

BMW’s I3 and I3s represent the future of urban mobility.

The 2018 i 3 models will make their official introduction at the Frankfort auto show in Septemberr.


REVIEWED BY OUR TEAM

BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH

Thursday, August 24, 2017

LUXURY OF TOMORROW







The Future of Luxury – Interview with Stefan Sielaff, Bentley's Design Director

Designing the Bentley of tomorrow is not an easy task. Not only must Bentley’s Director of Design, Stefan Sielaff, preserve the brand’s unmistakable identity – forged over nearly a century – but he must also visualise the future and innovate.

Here Stefan discusses the future of luxury design, evolving customer demands and the models which define Bentley.

Which Bentley design defines the brand for you, and how does this inform what you’re thinking about next? 

Talking as a designer, the Bentley which made the most innovative statement of its time is the Mulliner R-Type Continental from 1952. The surfaces of this model feature sharp lines against positive and negative curvature – permitted by traditional yet more time consuming production methods. This DNA will find its way into future Bentleys, but with lightweight, modern treatment.
That’s before we even talk about the proportions forming the basis for our current model range. The striking power line, muscular rear haunches and swooping, fast roof line – we will continue to be inspired by these proportions in the future.



Do you have any guiding principles?

As a custodian of a British brand with such an extensive heritage, it is my role to push the design language into the future. To do this I am convinced we need the help of more three-dimensional design and form language.

We always need one ingredient in the design language of Bentley, and this is elegance. So whatever we do, we push our design language into a new dimension with the help of elegance.



What does the future of luxury design mean to you? 

The future of luxury design is rather complex because customers are demonstrating new requirements.  We cannot only talk about a sculptural exterior and a functional interior.  We have to integrate new technologies. I believe very strongly you can only more forward in design and aesthetic with a big input from technology.



Where do you think automotive trends are going? Both in terms of the design and how people use cars?
Society is changing. I think in the next 20 years the automotive industry will see seismic changes. Three quarters of the human population is going to live in mega cities, so the flow of traffic has to be different. In these megacities we are going to lose a very individual relationship of driving your own car.

I think it’s more than a question of autonomous moving vehicles, I think it will require swarm intelligence to maintain traffic flow. I am also sure that there will be luxury vehicles – however we may need to redefine what luxury means. Luxury could mean being a member of an exclusive club which has access to a fast lane – time being the most precious commodity.

In the countryside, in the mountains, there you may have this personal experience of freedom in your car, but in the megacities this will change.





Where do you see automotive material trends changing?

There will always be an audience for luxury cars. Of this I am convinced. There will always be people who want an individual statement about themselves embodied in their car. Nevertheless, a lot of things will change. The customer of the future may ask for vegan materials – ecological, sustainable trends. This is why we are looking into developing materials like protein leather – or luxurious textiles – it is why we are experimenting with stone veneers, and OLED screens. There will be a mixture of technology and aesthetic in the future.

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Talking about synthetic materials for building the Chinese have developed a vehicle made primarily of organic materials.  They see it as the future.

I have  visited  Henry Ford’s home in Richmond, Georgia numerous times. Not far from Savannah.  Henry built a winter home here and bought up the surrounding lands and town. He was cultivating soybeans for use in FORD vehicles.  If you recall he was into recycling.  Bill Ford Jr has proven he too wishes this.

Many great automotive minds are working to use our abundant organic materials for alternative to steel or aluminum for body parts.

For luxury builders I can see specialized woods and other organic high end materials used for the interior.
The future will deliver some exceptional building materials for the automotive industry.



BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH


Tuesday, August 22, 2017

BMW's NEW M5 DEBUTS





 

Electronic Arts and the BMW Group debuted the all-new BMW M5 (fuel consumption combined: 10.5 l/100 km [26.9 mpg imp]*; CO2 emissions combined: 241 g/km*) in Need for SpeedTM Payback, the action driving blockbuster releasing this fall. This marks first time BMW has revealed a car through a video game partnership, unveiling the new BMW M5 at gamescom, Europe’s biggest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. The new BMW M5 builds on the traditional concept of a luxurious four-door business sedan by appealing to drivers with a taste for high speed and adrenaline. Need for SpeedTM Payback players will be among the first to experience the new M xDrive all-wheel drive as they tear through the city streets and diverse landscape of Fortune Valley this fall.



BMW took the actual wraps off the 2018 M5 model – it had made an earlier debut in a video game – that mavens had been waiting for since early this year.



The all-new, sixth-generation M5 features the M-specific all-wheel-drive system, M xDrive. This new system allows the M5 to reach new heights of dynamic performance and delivers poise in all driving situations.

“Thanks to M xDrive, the all-new BMW M5 can be piloted with the familiar blend of sportiness and unerring accuracy both on the racetrack and out on the open road,” Frank van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW M GmbH,“while also delighting drivers with its significantly enhanced directional stability and controllability right up to the limits of performance when driving in adverse conditions such as on wet roads or snow.”

The new BMW M5 is outfitted  with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 as with the last model, but it makes 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque: an increase of 40 hp and 53 lb-ft of torque respectively compared with the 2017 model.

The M5 is also capable of a top speed of 189 mph when equipped with the M Driver’s Package. Otherwise, the car is limited to 155 mph. All of this power and torque goes through an 8-speed automatic to an all-wheel-drive system, the first for an M5.

The all-wheel drive M5 does the zero-to-60 sprint in 3.2 seconds, helped in part by the all-wheel drive that puts all of that horsepower on the ground and three different drive modes that, including the sport mode that helps too.
As usual, the M5 exterior looks very similar to that of the 5 Series, but a closer look reveals larger grilles, a rear valance with a faux diffuser as well as the normal vents in the fenders, as well as the subtle M5 badge on the side. Not quite a “sleeper,” but more of a buttoned-down look.
“The BMW M5 has always embodied the perfect blend of mature business sedan and high-performance components,” said Domagoj Dukec, vice president of Design BMW i and BMW M.





BMW is offering a “First Edition” special-edition model limited to a worldwide run of 400 vehicles with 50 units coming to the U.S. The 2018 BMW M5 First Edition will be available starting spring of 2018. Pricing information will come closer to launch.

The all-new BMW M5 First Edition has exclusive Frozen Dark Red Metallic paintwork and includes BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line trim with extended features. This means that the kidney grille, the M gills and the four tailpipes of the sports exhaust all come in high-gloss black. The M5 First Edition is fitted as standard with 20-inch seven-double-spoke light-alloy wheels in black.

The interior features Piano Finish Black applications are complemented by a plaque on the center console indicating the car’s production number (“M5 First Edition 1/400”), pointing to the exclusivity of this BMW M5. The M5 First Edition comes as standard with high-quality M multifunction seats. It is also available with full-leather upholstery in Smoke White with red contrast stitching.

It also comes available in a video game “Need for SpeedT Payback,” the action driving blockbuster releasing this fall. This marks first time BMW has revealed a car through a videogame partnership, unveiling the new BMW M5 at gamescom, Europe’s biggest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment.



 “The new BMW M5 is a stunning car,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer at Ghost Games. “With immense horsepower and torque combined with gorgeous design, our players are going to love getting behind the wheel of the new M5. Whether it’s pulling off intense heist missions, or outrunning cops in epic pursuits or just cruising the open world, this car embodies performance, speed and desire, making it one of the pinnacle rides in Need for Speed Payback.”

The M5 takes the BMW M-series into new territory, with 441 kW/600 hp, peak torque of 750 Nm and 10.5 l/100 km fuel consumption combined/ 241 g/km CO2 emissions combined, which promise supreme propulsive power and formidable performance. The new M xDrive developed by BMW M GmbH is the most engaging all-wheel-drive system yet to grace the high-performance segment and will be on display across various terrains in Need for SpeedTM Payback.



“The M is not only synonymous for the world’s most powerful letter, but has also become a synonym worldwide for the prototype of the Ultimate Driving Machine. Take a look at the new BMW M5: its power output, torque and acceleration, the M specific all-wheel drive system M xDrive and its stunning design make our all-new toy the perfect feature for Need for Speed,” said Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. “While the M5 won’t be officially released until next spring, Need for Speed players can drive it first and exclusively in Need for SpeedTM Payback. We at BMW M are really proud of this collaboration.”

“Young, enthusiastic and 100% devoted to their passion: This is not only true for BMW M fans but also for millions of gamers around the globe, who love Need for SpeedTM. BMW is joy and excitement for cars, whether it is in real life or digital,” said Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “With this cooperation BMW can reach out to a new audience that is truly digital. This is a perfect example for a fruitful cooperation in modern marketing with benefits for everyone and a new milestone after the BMW M2’s debut in 2015’s Need for SpeedTM.”



BMW and Need for SpeedTM share a long tradition together. Already in 1999 the BMW M5 was part of the first Need for SpeedTM. BMW was part of the history of Need for SpeedTM ever since: Whether it was the BMW M3 in 2005’s Need for SpeedTM Most Wanted, the BMW M3 GTR in Need for SpeedTM Shift in 2009, and many other appearances of BMW M4, M6 and many alike. Just recently the new BMW M2 entered the stage in 2015’s Need for SpeedTM.

Need for SpeedTM is one of the world’s bestselling video game franchises.
Its latest instalment, Need for SpeedTM Payback, will be available worldwide on November 10th for Xbox One, PlayStation®4, and Origin™ for PC. Need for SpeedTM Payback Deluxe Edition owners will get their three-day early access starting Tuesday, November 7th. Players can also get into the action before launch through EA Access and Origin Access, where members can play for up to 10 hours starting Thursday, November 2nd with the EA Access and Origin Access Play First Trial.

Once we test drive the new Series 5 models we will update our report.

 REVIEWED BY OUR STAFF

BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH

Saturday, August 19, 2017

IT'S BACK- THE MICROBUS IS NOW ELECTRIC.




VOLKSWAGEN TAKES BOLD DECISION TO PUT I.D. BUZZ ELECTRIC CONCEPT CAR INTO PRODUCTION

Aug 19, 2017

Volkswagen management announces production plans for the 21st century Microbus at the
home of the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance












 

Pebble Beach, California – At the Detroit Show in early 2017, Volkswagen showed the I.D. BUZZ concept car, a fully electric vehicle that taps in to the spirit and vibe that made the VW Microbus such an iconic vehicle — whether with Hippies and families in the Sixties or Surfer Dudes and Van Lifers today.

The NAIAS in Detroit excited our team as to the revival of the VW Microbus.

VW received an overwhelming number of letters and emails asking them to produce the I.D. Buzz. The F I.D. line will start with a more conventional four-door passenger car model based on the first I.D. concept before the end of the decade. The I.D. Buzz, it said today, “will arrive at dealerships in 2022,” and it “is mainly targeting markets in North America, Europe and China.”

“For me, the I.D. Buzz concept is the most beautiful and most exciting electric car in the world,” said Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand, in Pebble Beach, Calif.

“Our goal is clear: we want to make the fully electric, fully connected car a bestseller around the world. The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen.”


The I.D. Buzz is the second EV concept that VW has revealed for production, along with the original I.D. concept slated to enter production around 2019 as a 2020 model, while the I.D. Crozz concept has shown how an electric VW SUV could look. All three use VW’s Modular Electric Drive kit (or MEB, for its German acronym), a group of components and chassis parts engineered to maximize the potential of electric drive and future technology. “These cars will offer everything – and even more – than you have seen from other electric carmakers,” says Diess. “And they will be much more affordable.”




The first VW Bus sold in the United States in 1950 had all of 30 hp. The I.D. Buzz concept sports 369 hp from electric motors on each axle that also provide all wheel drive and the 111 kWh battery pack in the floor of the MEB chassis provide nearly 300 miles of estimated range. Using a VW fast-charge system, the it can recharge about 80 percent of its energy capacity in 30 minutes at 150 kW.

Last week and according to our staff a lot of Beetles and original Microbuses cruised Detroit’s Woodward Cruse  day and night.  The young people will buy the new I.D. Buzz electric.

Now, Volkswagen has taken the bold decision to put the Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ concept car into production and Volkswagen’s CEO of the North American Region, Hinrich J. Woebcken is happy to welcome the car to North America.  The Chairmen of the Boards of Management of the Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands, Dr Herbert Diess and Dr Eckhard Scholz, announced the decision today at one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world — the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California. 




Within the framework of further development, Volkswagen has also set a launch date for the I.D. BUZZ. The vehicle will arrive at dealerships in 2022, after the compact four-door I.D. makes its debut. With the I.D. BUZZ, Volkswagen is mainly targeting markets in North America, Europe and China.

You can  be sure VW and after market suppliers will create a camper version.

The I.D. Buzz Concept picked up on many of the classic microvan’s design cues, starting with the relatively blunt nose and flat roof. But instead of the rear-mounted engine of the classic Microbus, the I.D. Buzz will rely on a pure battery-electric drivetrain.



"After the presentations at the global motor shows in Detroit and Geneva, we received a large number of letters and emails from customers who said, 'please build this car’,” Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess said in Pebble Beach. The Board of Management chose Pebble Beach as the location to make its announcement because, as Diess explained: "The Microbus has long been part of the California lifestyle. Now we're bringing it back by reinventing it as an electric vehicle."

Just like the concept car that was shown in Detroit, the production model will also have its batteries mounted in the vehicle floor. Because the electric drive components — electric motor, power electronics, and such —don't take up much space, the vehicle has a long wheelbase with short overhangs, allowing for a massively spacious interior and great proportions. "The vehicle looks like a compact commercial van on the outside, even though it offers the generous interior space of a large SUV," Diess explained.

As with the passenger car – indeed, just like virtually all new electric vehicles coming to market now – the I.D. Microbus will adopt a skateboard-like platform pioneered by Tesla and General Motors. That means the batteries and key drivetrain components will be under the load floor. That serves several purposes:
  • It helps lower the center of gravity, improving vehicle dynamics despite the large mass of batteries;
  • It offers more room for the batteries needed for extended range;
  • At the same time, it frees up space above for passengers and cargo.
That will be doubly beneficial, as the German automaker says it plans to offer both passenger and cargo versions of the I.D. Buzz.




CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen, Hinrich J. Woebcken added: “We are delighted that our parent company has taken the decision to produce the I.D. BUZZ. This vehicle is the perfect balance between emotion, usability and sustainability, while also showcasing our technological leadership. The high seating position, cargo capacity, overall versatility and all-wheel drive option packaged into such an appealing design is just what our customers want from us. And it’s the perfect fit for the zero-emissions American lifestyle.”

The I.D. BUZZ won’t just be a passenger vehicle. Just like the classic T2, the I.D. BUZZ will both haul people and haul freight. "Along with a minibus version, we'll also be offering an I.D. BUZZ CARGO variant for zero-emissions delivery of goods,” said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CEO Dr Eckhard Scholz. "With Level 3 autonomous capability, this is an ideal concept for an electric van, particularly for delivering packages and goods to the inner cities."

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

Although Volkswagen's oldest and newest Microbuses will be separated by more than seven decades when the new model is launched, the I.D. BUZZ undoubtedly has the original's genes, as it offers maximum utilization of space on the footprint of a mid-size passenger car. Based on the new all-electric architecture, the production version of the I.D. BUZZ will incorporate many design ideas from the concept car, including multi-variable seating, interactive connectivity and highly automated driving.

The I.D. Buzz concept also offers a preview of the type of autonomous technology that VW will develop for future models – namely its fully automated “I.D. Pilot” mode that could go into production by 2025. From the fold-away steering wheel and pop-up laser scanners in the roof to a heads-up display that integrates augmented reality, the I.D. Buzz does not lack for innovation.




The  I.D.BUZZ will allow a motorist to shift to self-driving mode, though someone will need to remain behind the wheel ready to take over in an emergency.

“With Level 3 autonomous capability, this is an ideal concept for an electric van, particularly for delivering packages and goods to the inner cities,” said commercial vehicles division CEO Eckhard Scholz.

VW has been rapidly plugging into electric propulsion. It now has a variety of hybrids, plug-ins and even pure battery models, such as the e-Golf. But it is also working up an entirely new sub-brand, Volkswagen I.D., specifically for electrified offerings. All told, Diess has said there will be at least such models in the line-up a decade from now.



“The I.D. Buzz stands for the new Volkswagen,” says Diess. “We are fully committed to the future of mobility, and we want to reignite America’s love for VW.”


REVIEWED BY OUR TEAM

BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH

HISTORY OF THE ELECTRIC MICROBUS


#TBT: Volkswagen’s first electric bus

 

Volkswagen has a long heritage with electric propulsion. Ferdinand Porsche, the engineer who designed  the Volkswagen Beetle, made a name for himself with his first electric car in 1900 (one later adopted to become the world’s first hybrid.) But it would be some 70 years before a production electric vehicle would carry the Volkswagen brand – and it’s likely not one you’ve ever heard of.

The global oil crisis of the early 1970s set many automakers to work looking for alternatives to gasoline power. One of VW’s answers was to take the still-popular Type 2 Microbus and transform it into an all-electric vehicle. Known as both Eleckro-Bus and Elektro-Transporter, VW would eventually build and sell about 70 of these EVs for use in Germany between 1972 and 1976.

Volkswagen's Elektro-Bus


The limitations of electric power in that era made the Elektro-Bus a machine useful for only certain roles. The battery pack of 72 lead-acid cells was reliable but not that powerful; top speed was only 43 miles per hour, and reaching it would take a good 30 seconds. As with modern electric cars, the pack was located on the vehicle floor in the center of the chassis, necessary given its size and 1,847-lb. weight; unlike today, the range was all of 25 miles. And while the Bus was rechargeable over several hours, it also included a built-in rail and stand that allowed owners to swap out battery packs.

Even 40 years ago, the VW engineers who built the Elektro-Bus were exploring how much better it could be with a more advanced battery (a nickel-cobalt pack the same weight as the one in the pack would have doubled the range). As this year’s I.D. BUZZ concept shows, the next generation of electric-powered vehicles with lithium-ion packs could have speed and range similar to what’s already on the road – and style to spare, as VW buses always do.