Volkswagen launches ‘smart’ electric revamp of minivan

It gets a heritage-inspired design that borrows styling cues such as a V-shaped front end and flared D-pillars from the original, rear-engined Volkswagen van that was built for decades in Germany and overseas, but it’s not full-on retro like the Beetle and the Fiat 500.

The folks at Volkswagen describe it as the Microbus of the 21st Century.

VW didn’t say in its releases if the new Microbus will actually go into production, but said that the BUDD-e “demonstrates what electric mobility could be like by the year 2019”. The vehicle also can be controlled via touchscreens, gesture control, or by announcing “Hello BUDD-e” to activate the voice recognition system.

But first, the most important part of this concept is what you can’t see: the platform.

Underneath, it uses a completely new Modular Electronic Toolkit (MEB) platform designed for plug-in vehicles, as well as a completely new 101-kWh battery pack. The platform will be exclusive to Volkswagen’s forthcoming electric vehicles.

Enough with the looks: as a CES unveiling, the Budd-e’s objective is to showcase the electric drive systems and infotainment technology that Volkswagen will introduce in the years ahead.

The vehicle’s electric powertrain allows for a very spacious interior, something that’s quite important in a van. Assuming, of course, this battery and charging technology makes it to production unchanged from the concept. A 12.3-inch curved display with a surface consisting of three individually configurable sections is centrally positioned, right in front of the driver. It’s got a large, customisable instrument panel, touch and gesture controls, and more natural voice controls. Other key design traits include the lack of door handles and wing mirrors, the LED taillight which flows up from the tailgate and across the rear spoiler and the C-shaped daytime running lights.

So, if you’ve ever wanted an electric vehicle with room for your friends and the ability open the front door of your house, spy on your kids, potentially accept packages, and, oh yeah, also drive places, then rejoice! The van can also display images from cameras located in or around your home. So the obvious question is, will anyone warm to the Budd-e? The third-generation multifunction steering wheel features two-stage touch feedback – allowing a driver to determine a button’s function without taking their eyes off the road, before another touch feedback lets them know the control has been activated. Unlike current examples, however, the VW will project a laser outline to help you gesture in the correct place – so no more blindly waving your foot or hand around in vain.

Travellers in a BUDD-e equivalent will be able to access various aspects of their home from the vehicle, and using a tablet indulge in such niceties as programming songs to start at specific points along the car’s route.