VW reinvents the Beach Buggy
Volkswagen revealed the ID. BUGGY at the Geneva International Motor Show this week. The ID. BUGGY is a zero-emissions high-tech vehicle for the summer, on the beach or in the city, based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB).
The parallels between the Californian dune buggies of the sixties and the new ID. BUGGY are apparent. All beach buggies from back then featured a high degree of modular variability – based on the chassis of the legendary Beetle, with a four-cylinder boxer engine running at the rear. Small series manufacturers stretched a cover made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic over the chassis and engine of the Beetle, thus writing automotive history. The ID. BUGGY is tied to this cult concept with the technical possibilities of the modern age. The basis here is the progressive chassis of the MEB. Integrated in the vehicle floor: a high-voltage battery.
This rechargeable battery supplies the electricity for the ID. BUGGY’s 150 kW/204 PS electric drive motor in the rear. An additional electric motor in the front axle is also conceivable in order to realise an all- wheel drive with an ‘electric propshaft’.
The design language expresses the unique experience when driving the buggy. To be able to feel the wind, a fixed roof and doors were deliberately dispensed with. This is why the resilient and minimalist design of the interior is characterised by waterproof materials. The concept car is a pure 2-seater; however, the ID. BUGGY can also be converted to a 2+2- seater.
The composite body manufactured from a mixture of aluminium, steel and plastic is self-supporting. Thanks to the modular design, the upper body can be detached from the MEB chassis. A clear signal to small series manufacturers and start-ups: As in the past, Volkswagen is opening up to external producers with the ID. BUGGY concept. The offer: You can build the new-era, zero-emissions dune buggy based on this concept. In general, the MEB also has the potential to become the new technical basis for e-mobility for many car manufacturers.