New Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB unveiled as electric seven-seat MPV

German brand Volkswagen has unveiled its new long-wheelbase version of the ID Buzz, with the retro-inspired seven-seat MPV set to go on sale in the UK later this year. 

Volkswagen launched the ID Buzz last year as a modern-day incarnation of the original Type 2 camper van of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Oozing charm and fun, the ID Buzz arrived with a 77kWh battery and 258 miles of range.

The ID Buzz long-wheelbase will, unlike the standard car, will be offered with a choice of battery options: 77kWh will come as standard with an 88kWh unit also available. Volkswagen is yet to reveal official range figures or energy consumption but has revealed that both battery packs can be charged at speeds of up to 200kW. 

Described by its makers as a “Samba bus for the modern age”, the long-wheelbase MPV will be sold in rear-wheel-drive guise first, with the larger ID Buzz developing 210kW and up to 413lb ft of torque. A range-topping, four-wheel-drive long-wheelbase ID Buzz GTX will arrive in 2024, promising a power output of 264kW and a 0-62mph time of 6.4sec. 

Measuring 4962mm in length, the LWB Buzz is 250mm longer than the standard car. This means that the sliding doors on the side of the Buzz have also grown in size by 192mm. In total the wheelbase is 250mm longer than that of the standard model, up from 2989mm to 3239mm

Volkswagen’s long-wheelbase machine is identical in its appearance to the standard ID Buzz, albeit with bigger proportions and a funky illuminated VW logo emblazoned on the front. 

Does the inside of the long-wheelbase ID Buzz mimic the Doctor Who? Tardis? Not quite, but it's certainly roomy – and you get a choice of three different interior arrangements: a five-seater, a six-seater and a seven-seater with a two-plus-three-plus-two layout. 

In the UK, the five-seat layout will come as standard, with the six-seat and seven-seat arrangements available as an option. A cargo version will also be offered in the future. 

Thanks to the large proportions of the ID Buzz LWB, the amount of luggage space is vast, with 1340 litres to play with in five seat-form. Drop the seats to behind the front seat row and the volume increases to 2469 litres. 

Volkswagen has equipped the long-wheelbase bus with a new 12.9in infotainment display, up from 10.0in on the standard model. It also features touch-sensitive sliders for the air conditioning and audio volume. 

The German brand plans to sell its large MPB in the US, Canada and Europe. The ID Buzz long-wheelbase will arrive in the UK in late 2023, and is expected to go on sale with a price tag of around the £70,000 mark.