Volkswagen I.D. Buggy Concept Has 201 Horsepower and AWD

Volkswagen is no stranger to applying the I.D. model designation to classics like the Westfalia or in this case, the Dune Buggy.

The Volkswagen I.D. Buggy Concept unveiled tonight at the Geneva Motor Show is about as modern a take you can have on the classic duner. Fully electric with a definite modern design, it still has the unmistakable styling of the legend on which it’s based along with a fully electric engine.

There are no doors, no side windows, and no roof. The only thing that keeps you protected from the elements is a windshield. Should things get a bit too intense on the beach and you tip over, a roll bar is fitted behind the front seats to keep the driver and passenger safe.

The cabin can be made to fit two passengers up front as a two-seater or adopt a 2+2 four-seater configuration.

The wheels are wrapped in massive Mud-Terrain tires and will take you just about anywhere, just like the original dune buggy could when it hit the market back in 1960s. Ground clearance is an impressive 9.4 inches, almost as much as a Jeep Wrangler.

Powering the new Volkswagen I.D. Buggy is an electric motor with 201 horsepower and 155 miles (248 kilometers) of range. The range and power are made possible by a 62-kWh battery. Top speed is rated at 99 mph or 160 km/h and you can reach 100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds. That’s not crazy fast, but it will probably feel faster given the I.D. Buggy’s open cabin.

LA Auto Show 2018: Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ CARGO concept

The Volkswagen I.D. Buggy won’t make it to production, we can almost guarantee it. On the flip side, it shows off the versatility of the Volkswagen’s electric vehicle MEB platform. There’s very little Volkswagen can’t build on the MEB platform and given the German automaker’s lofty EV goals, that’s very important.

The dune buggy was originally a Volkswagen Beetle that buyers would modify. According to Volkswagen, over 250,000 Beetles were modified over the years.