19 August 2019

Volkswagen’s I.D. Buggy stirs up Pebble Beach

The Volkswagen I.D. Buggy concept has made its off-road dynamic debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance during Monterey Car Week in California.

Having made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the I.D. Buggy rides on the VW Group’s MEB electric platform, which will be put into production with the I.D. 3 hatchback later this year.

Beach Buggy and ID Buggy

While production of the I.D. Buggy has yet to be confirmed, it is now being investigated – and it’s unlikely to be Volkswagen. Low-volume, low-cost production start-up e.Go Mobile, which has become the first company to license the MEB platform for its own models, is in the running to engineer and build the I.D. Buggy on VW’s behalf.

I.D Buggy

The ID Buggy features a 202hp / 310Nm rear-mounted electric motor, offering 0-62mph in 7.2sec and a top speed of 99mph. Energy comes from a 62kWh battery, giving a range of around 155 miles on the WLTP test cycle.

The rear-wheel-drive configuration echoes the Beetle drivetrain from the original beach buggies, but Volkswagen said that, as with other I.D. models, a motor could be fitted to the front axle to provide all-wheel drive.

ID Buggy in Sand

At 4,063mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,463mm tall, the I.D. Buggy is marginally shorter, wider and lower than the I.D. 3. It has a 2,650mm wheelbase and a ground clearance of 2,400mm and rides on 18-inch wheels with large off-road tyres. The concept is a two-seater, but two rear seats could potentially be added.

There are no doors, with the side instead dipping to make for easier access, and no roof. A detachable cover had been developed for the concept to protect from sun or rain. The eventual production version is likely to have a more secure detachable cover for the roof and sides.

i.D Buggy Dashboard

The minimalist interior makes extensive use of durable, waterproof materials, including waterproof cloth seats with drains at the bottom to ensure water does not pool in the seats.

Pretty much all the controls are built into the hexagonal steering wheel. A controller stalk on the side of the wheel is used to select drive and engage the handbrake. There is a small digital information screen located behind the wheel, but there is no built-in infotainment system as music can be played via Bluetooth through built-in speakers from a hand-held device.

There is no firm date for the I.D. Buggy to go into production, but it will likely only follow more mainstream I.D. concepts that have since been revealed.

  • Tags
  • Volkswagen
  • Concept
  • EV

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