Volkswagen BUDD-e Concept

[Janteag]

Volkswagen has just unveiled the BUDD-e Concept at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.
It is their first vehicle built on their all-new Modular Electric Platform.
VW claims it will be powered by a 101 kWh battery pack, with a range of 373 miles.
They also claim that the battery pack can be charged to 80% in just 15 minutes.

So, what do you guys think about it? Is it a good move by VW, or will it just be another vaporware concept?

I personally think it's not going to be produced, but I feel like the unveiling of an EV is a step in the right direction after the whole dieselgate fiasco.

More info on the car here: http://jalopnik.com/the-volkswagen-bus-is-back-meet-budd-e-and-its-modular-1751284699
And here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/01/05/vw-budd-e-concept-ces-official/#slide-3757731

 

[Robin]

They have been doing many VW Bus concepts over the years with various levels of retro inspiration and none of them have ever come to market like the New Beetle. I don't really understand why them do them because none of the design cues seem to filter down to the minibuses they do make like the Transporter.

The rear looks pretty cool but the front looks like an enlarged Citroen C1.

 

[Tornado]

It's a knee jerk piece of damage control over the diesel thing. Nothing more.

 

[Ken]

I see a lot of the latest Scion Xb. And with a name like BUDD-e, come on. It's VW's way of saying, "We still love you, come back please!"

Should have just named it 'Yes, we screwed up. But don't hold a grudge please.'

 

[CodeRedR51]

It's a knee jerk piece of damage control over the diesel thing. Nothing more.

This thing was very likely in development long before that issue emerged.

 

[VXR]

The previous Bulli and 2001 Microbus concepts looked much more endearing than this. It doesn't scream VW, but I can think of a couple of JDM Kei vans that look a bit like this.

 

[YSSMAN]

If its a platform/powertrain demonstration, sure, it sounds good to me. But I really wish VW would quit dancing around the idea of doing another Microbus, and actually pull the trigger. Its clear that small CUVs and SUVs are all the rage, but I think VW could capitalize on that with something like this. Keep the cutesy styling, slap a basic electronic AWD system under it, use that 1.4T you've got laying around from the Jetta. Bing, bang, boom - you've got a reasonably affordable Kia Soul competitor.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

If its a platform/powertrain demonstration, sure, it sounds good to me. But I really wish VW would quit dancing around the idea of doing another Microbus, and actually pull the trigger. Its clear that small CUVs and SUVs are all the rage, but I think VW could capitalize on that with something like this. Keep the cutesy styling, slap a basic electronic AWD system under it, use that 1.4T you've got laying around from the Jetta. Bing, bang, boom - you've got a reasonably affordable Kia Soul competitor.

Exactly.

I think they've gone and shot themselves in the foot again by presenting this new platform underneath yet another take on the Bus idea. No matter what the specs of the underlying platform may be, the majority of people are going to look at this, and instantly be reminded that VW's been teasing the idea of another bus for nearly two decades.

 

[Tornado]

This thing was very likely in development long before that issue emerged.

And? What was in development before October and what they are presenting here are almost certainly not the same thing with all of the corporate edicts VW has announced since, and as it is a concept that VW is almost certainly not going to build it doesn't matter how quickly they had to make changes to it for a more positive image after the scandal.

 

[kikie]

This electric VW looks a lot like the Kia Soul.

 

[Ameer67]

Asymmetrical too, cool.

 

[ToyGTone]

Hey budd-e! How's going mate?

 

[CodeRedR51]

And? What was in development before October and what they are presenting here are almost certainly not the same thing...

And you know this for sure, how?

 

[Nessy]

The overall shape reminds me a lot of the 2011 Bulli concept, just with different details and such.

 

[Tornado]

And you know this for sure, how?

I assumed everyone on this forum understood how communication worked well enough that I don't have to preface things with "in my opinion" when I already used language like "almost certainly" in the same post.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I assumed everyone on this forum understood how communication worked well enough that I don't have to preface things with "in my opinion" when I already use language like "almost certainly" in the same post.

It just appeared to me like you knew exactly what VW thinks and does on a daily basis.

 

[Tornado]

You are of course perfectly free to believe that Volkswagen planned all along to make a keynote address at CES of all places, before rolling out a third variation of VW Microbus that they once again won't build that just happens to be an electric vehicle with technology they don't yet have the ability to produce; and that the diesel thing last year had nothing to do with it.

 

[Pupik]

You are of course perfectly free to believe that Volkswagen planned all along to make a keynote address at CES of all places, before rolling out a third variation of VW Microbus that they once again won't build that just happens to be an electric vehicle with technology they don't yet have the ability to produce; and that the diesel thing last year had nothing to do with it.

If it were twenty years ago, then the "electric vehicle concept" would seem outrageous. Instead, it's Volkswagen displaying their penchant for one-off technology (or pipe dreams) while barely doing anything groundbreaking with their current fleet. It's like GM's concepts in the 1980s...wowee-zowee concepts, but we'll return your phone calls via self-addressed, stamped envelope at the dawn of the 21st century.

So it's hardly a stretch that VW had this planned a year or so in advance, despite tampering with emissions ratings, but since VAG reserves their advancements for Audi et al in the brand portfolio...there's nothing to really see here.

And it's not that don't I want to see this kind of thing happen, because it's a useful category which means one less bloated truck-car-compromise on the road. Sadly, the fruits of VW's new ideas are the Eos and things everyone else has debuted 5 years ago.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Electric cars are on the rise in popularity, several manufactures are in the process of making at least one of them and VW is no different. I don't see a coincidence at all. The rumors of an electric VW Bus concept have been swirling for a long time.

 

[YSSMAN]

Electric cars are on the rise in popularity, several manufactures are in the process of making at least one of them and VW is no different. I don't see a coincidence at all. The rumors of an electric VW Bus concept have been swirling for a long time.

I'm pretty sure that almost every manufacturer has to have some kind of electric offering available in states like California very soon, and I'd imagine that this is VW's effort - outside of the e-Golf - to get in that game.

 

[VXR]

I've discovered this evening that VW are using some Microbus inspiration to sell the T6.

http://www.autozine.co.uk/text/1322.html