Volkswagen's new Microbus is even more 'hippie' than the original

Have you always wished you could ride in an iconic 1960s Volkswagen Microbus? Well, soon you'll be able to, and what’s more, it’s electric and drives itself.

Volkswagen introduced the ID Buzz concept car at this year’s Detroit Auto Show on Monday. The concept vehicle from the German automaker is a nod to the beloved Volkswagen Microbus, Volkswagen’s second car, which it introduced in 1950. The original Microbus was popularized during the Hippie movement in the 1960s.

The ID Buzz, which Volkswagen calls a “Microbus for a new era” is both a glimpse of Volkswagen’s future plans and a tribute to one of its most iconic vehicles. It may also help people forget about the diesel scandal from a year ago as the company executes on a larger overall strategic shift from diesel towards electric vehicles. According to Volkswagen, the ID Buzz has an all electric driving range of up to 270 miles on one charge. It seats up to eight, but can also be adjusted to have two lounging seats and features a fully autonomous “ID Pilot” driving mode, wherein the driver’s seat can even be turned 180 degrees to face the rear.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

A big focus of the ID line of vehicles is providing software that enhances the rider experience. The Buzz will use a profile system for drivers, the Volkswagen User-ID, that stores user preferences such as “personal seat and air conditioning settings, favorite radio stations and songs, sound system settings, exterior sound, configuration of the navigation system, type of ambient lighting and contact information for the driver’s friends and business associates."

The car also features a versatile productivity and entertainment tablet that uses the Volkswagen User-ID to customize the driver's experience. The tablet can be used to display features like the user's calendar and suggest activities accordingly. The car also features an "augmented reality head-up display" that projects information such as directions 23-49 feet ahead of the car. In place of the rearview mirror, the car uses cameras and a display along with something called an "eMirror."

This is the second concept car in the ID series, following the ID hatchback debuted at the Paris Motor show in September 2016 -- that car is expected to launch to the public in 2020. While VW currently doesn't have plans to make a production model of the ID Buzz, if there's enough interest VW says the re-imagined Microbus could make it into production by 2025