The Volkswagen ID. Buzz bows at last

PLUS: Chevy's Blazer EV, Lotus's electric SUV, and Tesla's Berlin plant.

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.     Chevy teases an electric Blazer, Tesla readies Giga Berlin, and a Lotus electric SUV is spotted in patent filings. But first: The VW ID. Buzz Brings Back the Bus    This week Volkswagen took the wraps off its long-awaited ID. Buzz, revealing a retro-styled electric MPV just a year after the debut of the ID.4 SUV stateside. The ID. Buzz was among the first MEB-platform electric cars to get the green light from Wolfsburg, and it has been shown in concept and near-production form several times, including as a prototype robotaxi and as a cargo van.     This week's debut was more about a final reveal of the model's exterior and interior design, but by no means a market launch point. The ID. Buzz will go on sale in Europe later this year, but in the US only in 2024. So there are still a couple of years to wait if you've had your eye set on the retro-style van for some time, or even remember the 2001 Detroit concept vehicle that teased the return of the Microbus.    "The T1—an icon of the 1950s—represents freedom and the democratization of mobility. With the ID. Buzz, we are transferring the T1 DNA to the present day and thus into the era of electric mobility and sustainability," said Jozef Kabaň, head of Volkswagen design. "We very consciously ensured that we were not making another T1. The ID. Buzz shows that it is successfully transferring the genes and stylistic elements of that iconic vehicle into the digital era."   The ID. Buzz will feature a few retro touches inside as well, but will be packed with modern tech.    When it comes to performance, in European spec the ID. Buzz will be powered by a single motor positioned at the rear axle, producing 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. An 82-kWh gross (77-kWh usable) battery will provide the juice, as in the ID.4, prior to the appearance of other battery options as well as a dual-motor version of the EV. VW will also offer the ID. Buzz in two wheelbases, as well as different seat options when the entire menu arrives, so there will certainly be some differences based on trim levels and specific markets.     One version the US won't get will be the Cargo van, which had been shown in concept form a couple of times in the past, but now seems destined just for Europe.    Read on to find out just which versions the US will get in due time.   An electric Lotus SUV is on the way, and we'll see it in just a matter of weeks.    Speaking of new electric models, a glimpse of an upcoming electric SUV from an unexpected automaker surfaced a few days ago. The Lotus model was spotted by Motor 1 in patent filings in Australia just weeks ahead of its official debut at the end of this month, revealing most if not all of its exterior design.    Known internally as the Type 132 for now, the rakish electric SUV is expected to be offered with a choice of some rather large batteries—92 kWh and 120 kWh—as well as an all-wheel-drive dual-motor layout with over 600 hp on tap. These are heady numbers at the moment, especially for something that will be about the size of the Porsche Macan, but they should also buy the SUV a very competitive range on a full charge, if not the lightest curb weight.    Among other things, the patent filings also reveal prominent Lidar sensor pods fore and aft, pointing to some level of driving automation. That's right: on top of fielding an electric SUV, Lotus is also expected to offer a certain level of autonomous capability, currently in the process of being introduced by its parent company.    Read on to find out what else to expect from this upcoming electric SUV.             Volvo C40 Recharge Single-Motor on the Way    Volvo's Polestar sister brand may have enjoyed the most fanfare in recent months, with the recent reveals of upcoming battery-electric models, but Volvo itself isn't standing still when it comes to EVs.    The automaker announced the addition of another variant to its electric lineup, signaling the impending arrival of the single-motor C40 Recharge. READ THE FULL STORY    Chevrolet Teases the All-Electric Blazer SS    The Super Sport badge is one of Chevrolet's most recognizable logos and is a cherished piece of Chevy heritage. Now it looks like Chevrolet is giving its beloved SS badge a modern update—or at least a modern home.    Chevy is teasing the upcoming all-electric Blazer SS. This isn't the first time a crossover or SUV has seen the Super Sport badging, but it is the first time Chevrolet has placed the badge on an electric vehicle. READ THE FULL STORY Here's Why Volkswagen's ID. Buzz Cargo Is Not Coming to US READ MORE Tesla Gets Environmental Approval for Giga Berlin READ MORE 4 VW Microbus Concepts That Led to the Birth of the ID.Buzz READ MORE Ferrari 296 GTB Hybrid Takes a Step into the Electric Future READ MORE Aston Martin Has Deal to Develop New EVs and Battery Tech READ MORE NASCAR Exploring Possibility of Street Race in Chicago, Electric Series READ MORE       Spread the word: If you know someone interested in staying on top of the rapidly growing EV segment, feel free to pass this newsletter along. SIGN UP Follow Us Unsubscribe Privacy Notice Autoweek.com ©2022 Hearst Communications Inc. 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