Here's Volkswagen's All-Electric Dune Buggy and It's More Like an Old-School Buggy Than You'd Think

[Eugene]

Source: Jalopnik

Here's Volkswagen's All-Electric Dune Buggy and It's More Like an Old-School Buggy Than You'd Think

Jason Torchinsky
Today 7:00pmFiled to: VOLKSWAGEN



Volkswagen teased an all-electric dune buggy concept built on their new modular MEB platform and heavily inspired by ‘60s-era Beetle-based dune buggies like the famous Meyers Manx. We’re now seeing it in all it’s bright green glory before it shows up at the Geneva Motor Show, and, excitingly, it’s got more in common with those old air-cooled Beetle-buggies than you’d think.

First, it’s actually rear-motor’d like the orginal dune buggies. Sure, it’s an electric motor making 201 horsepower instead of an air-cooled flat-four making 50 hp if you’re lucky, but at least VW’s finally putting some motors in the right place.



That also means that, like an old Manx, it’s RWD, but now VW says there could be an option for an additional motor up front for AWD:

As an alternative to the rear-wheel-drive layout, it is also possible to fit a second electric motor in the front axle of the ID. BUGGY. In this case, an “electric propshaft” would distribute the power of the 4Motion® four-wheel drive between the front and rear axles in fractions of a second.

The concept of the “electric propshaft” I think is a deeply strange way to describe the electrical connections between the motors. I mean, I see the analogy they’re making, but comparing a bunch of electronic signals to a simple spinning rod just feels a little, uh, forced.

-snip-

Read more: https://jalopnik.com/heres-volkswagens-all-electric-dune-buggy-and-its-more-1833047902

[msongs]

1. trashing the environment has gone electric. hmm nt

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. The very first vehicle

I lusted after back in 1967 was a Volkswagen Dune Buggy. I was too young to realize how unrealistic and inconvenient it would be as an everyday car.

[House of Roberts]

3. It's not like an 'old school buggy'

unless it can mimic an air cooled engine's exhaust leaks, and drip oil on the driveway.

[Auggie]

4. Very cool. But pavement or dirt roads only, please.

[JohnnyRingo]

6. This won't be legal on public roads.

Though the article doesn't mention it, there are likely no airbags, something that wouldn't be practical in a vehicle that gets thrashed around. Also no rear view camera that is required on all new cars now. Certainly the VW would fail miserably at crash testing, so off-road only.

On the other hand, how cool is it to have a dune buggy you can hose out? Also brush the mud out of your smile.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. Wait!

ALL new cars must have a rear view camera? What for?

[JohnnyRingo]

8. As of the 2018 model year.

Why? Ask my brother in law who backed over his elderly dog. Thank goodness it wasn't the neighbor's kid. Even though it's bad because it adds to the bottom line of a new economy car, most people would probably be glad to order the option (not me).

Car companies like it because they put the infotainment screen in nearly every car anyway. Now they don't have to a stripped down model without the bumper camera and interface. That's also why you usually can't buy a car without A/C and crank windows.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

9. Nothing against your BIL but it warms my heart to know that...

...we're all paying to encourage folks not responsible to have a dog, to also own a car and DRIVE IT.

[jmowreader]

10. It wouldn't be any less legal than a Miata or a Jeep

4x4s like Jeeps and pickups are designed to be thrashed around, and they have airbags. A rear-view camera is no big deal; VW has a whole line of vehicles that have them, so why not this?

As to crash testing...this has no doors. With no doors to deal with, they could build it around a NASCAR-style tube frame and make it REALLY strong. I don't know about y'all, but if I was the person at VW in charge of designing this I would have brought NASCAR chassis builder Ronnie Hopkins in from the start.

Here's my question: Are enough people going to buy a car you can't lock to make this worth producing?

[JohnnyRingo]

5. I like the modular concept.

Even though the body as designed is an awesome throw back to the Meyers Manx, the body is detachable to allow for third party conversions. The aftermarket will surely come up with some alluring designs, but that will leave a lot of unwanted plastic shells to dispose of. On the other hand, it will create a supply of replacement parts for those who inevitably bang up their original bodywork.

Regardless, this should be a big seller if VW doesn't price it out of the market for Millennials who are undoubtably the target. It looks the part from every angle.

I saw this on Jalopnik yesterday, so thanx for posting.

[SunSeeker]

11. Cool. Wish they'd make a street legal rag top two seater EV.

Something that looks like the Miata would be awesome.

[natheo]

12. I like how it looks

That's a cool buggy though it deserves more aggressive-looking wheels and offroad tires. Finding a charging station in the dunes can be a problem also.