Volkswagen announced that the beloved VW Bus is back. This time, the Volkswagen Bus will return as a concept electric vehicle set to unveil at CES in January.
Despite a number of false starts and wild rumors, dating back as early as the Volkswagen “New” Microbus concept in 2001, the German automaker describes the latest reported prototype as a preview of the production version expected to roll out from the VW Puebla, Mexico, factory in 2017.
According to Autocar, the electric Volkswagen Bus will boasts the latest lithium-ion battery technology found in the Audi R8 E-Tron. The battery array will be packaged in the floor and deliver energy to small electric motors that drive the front wheels.
“We are pleased Volkswagen will use the CES stage to unveil a concept car displaying its latest developments in safe and energy-efficient electric vehicles consistent with VW’s long history of innovation in the driving experience,” said Consumer Electronics Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro. “When we agreed to a Volkswagen keynote earlier this year we, along with the world, did not know much about emissions testing, but after talking with Dr Diess I felt the CES audience would be interested in his vision and curious about his plans for a new type of sustainable car.”
The electric Volkswagen Bus is expected to be offered alongside four-cylinder gasoline and diesel variants, but technical details haven’t been shared.
Amid the Volkswagen diesel cheating scandal, the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company is facing an uphill battle winning back the trust and affection of its most loyal American consumers. However, it looks like a new Volkswagen Bus concept at CES 2016 is a step in the right direction.