A dual-cab pickup version of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been patented by the automaker, with an official full-colour render revealing a four-door ute version of the electric people mover, featuring a deep tray and repositioned charging port.
The ID. Buzz people mover only hit Australian showrooms last year but the patent filing, first reported by Motor Trend in the US, shows plans to produce a pickup version of its biggest electric vehicle (EV) have progressed enough for the German brand to protect the idea.
While Volkswagen has not confirmed it will produce any other derivatives of the ID. Buzz (beyond the seven-seat people mover and Cargo delivery van), the patent image depicts a realistic design proposition, with a sizeable tub behind the C-pillars and the top edge of the tray lining up seamlessly with the beltline.
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Of course the top-hinged rear hatch of the ID. Buzz has been ditched and its twin sliding doors have been replaced by conventionally hinged rear doors, while what looks like a step to access the tray and reach the padded roof has been integrated ahead of the rear wheels.
However, the vehicle in the stylistic render doesn’t quite match the production version’s door shut lines, suggesting more work needs to be done if an ID. Buzz pickup is to hit showrooms.
The ID. Buzz is the largest model to ride on Volkswagen’s dedicated-electric Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform, which underpins everything from the ID.3 hatch to the ID.4 and ID.5 mid-size SUVs, plus EVs from other Volkswagen Group brands including the Audi Q4 e-tron and Skoda Enyaq electric SUVs.
That’s in contrast to the Volkswagen Transporter, which shares its underpinnings with the Ford Tourneo people mover and Transit Custom van.
The ID. Buzz is offered in both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase forms, with a potential pickup version more likely to take advantage of the longer 3239mm wheelbase of the three-row model.
The all-wheel drive ID. Buzz GTX seven-seat performance flagship has a 1600kg braked towing capacity, employs coil-spring independent rear suspension, and produces 250kW of power and 590Nm of torque from its dual-motor electric powertrain.
Its larger 86kWh battery (single-motor rear-wheel drive versions have a 79kWh battery) provides up to 450km of WLTP range and a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.4 seconds.
An ID. Buzz pickup would make an unusual entry into the Australia’s electric ute market – perhaps outdone only by the Deepal E07 ‘multi-truck’.
So far the rear-drive LDV eT60 dual-cab is the only fully electric ute to have been released in Australia, with the larger Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 Lightning not officially offered here yet, but a bevy of new battery-powered mid-size utes are coming soon.
Toyota has tested an electric prototype of its HiLux dual-cab ute in Australia – although a production model is yet to be confirmed – while Ford has announced a Ranger-sized electric pickup in the US, based on its new Universal EV Platform.
Locally, there’s been more movement on the hybrid ute front, with multiple plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cabs in local showrooms, including the GWM Cannon Alpha, BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV, with many more to come.