An icon reimagined.
German automotive juggernaut Volkswagen has decided that for the upcoming Geneva motor show, the most prestigious automotive event of its kind in the world, they want to inject a little more funk into their already funky range of I.D. all-electric cars. While this one’s only a concept, it’s worth remembering that the ‘outlandish’ I.D. models that have since been OK-ed for production also started out life as concepts, so there’s hope in this yet.
In the 60s and 70s, American buyers used to strip down Beetles back to their bare bones, and turn a friendly little family hatchback (remember when a family used to be able to fit in those?) into a go-anywhere dune buggy with knobbly off-road tyres, flared fenders, and very little else. Doors, roofs, body panels were not required. And for the Geneva motor show this year, they’re bringing some of that attitude back.
“A buggy is more than a car. It is vibrancy and energy on four wheels. These attributes are embodied by the new e-buggy, which demonstrates how a modern, non-retro interpretation of a classic can look and, more than anything else, the emotional bond that electric mobility can create.” – Klaus Bischoff, Head Designer, Volkswagen
Despite the futuristic powertrain, the aesthetics of the “e-buggy” remain in keeping with what’s traditionally been accepted to be a dune buggy. So there are pronounced wheel arches, knobbly tyres, no roof or doors… but the headlights have taken a round shape that we haven’t seen before on an I.D. car, which looks more emotive and friendly to us. VW’s really trying to tug at heart strings with this car.
Perhaps more than anything else, the e-buggy is designed to show off just how capable the MEB platform is. To this writer, the flexibility and capability of electric ‘skateboard’ architecture could (could) herald the renaissance of coachbuilding. Or buggy-building. Either way, we love the fact that Volkswagen is exploring just how far MEB can go, and hope we’ll see more exciting design concepts like this in the future.
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