A preview of the 2024 Volkswagen ID.Buzz in the form of a modern minibus.

Volkswagen's iconic microbus is making a comeback. It is also a fully electric vehicle.

The ID.Buzz, which was unveiled Wednesday, is the production version of the concept car of the same name first seen in 2017. It has been a long wait, but U.S. fans will have to wait even longer.

Even though the ID.Buzz will go on sale this fall in Europe in both passenger and cargo versions, it will not arrive in U.S. showrooms until 2023, as a 2024 model. The U.S. version will differ slightly from the ID.Buzz you see here. It will have a longer wheelbase and will likely only be available in a passenger version; VW says that the U.S. version will be announced closer to market launch.

Although not mentioned in Wednesday's reveal, a camping version will also be available. This will carry VW's California tag. A version for cab services has also been confirmed. In fact, ID.Buzz will be active in a self-driving cab service scheduled to launch in 2025. The service will initially be implemented in Germany and operated by Volkswagen Group's Moyer Mobility division using a self-driving system developed by Argo AI, of which VW Group is a major shareholder.

The ID.Buzz for Europe is 185.5 inches long, 13.4 inches shorter than the Tesla Model X. This may not seem long, but thanks to a design that relegates the wheels to the corners, the wheelbase is a generous 117.6 inches, almost an inch longer than the Model X's wheelbase.

As a result of the long wheelbase, the cabin is spacious. Seating is limited to two rows, with standard seating for five passengers, but a two-row, six-passenger configuration will be available at a later date. European buyers will also be offered a long-wheelbase body style for the U.S., which will offer three rows of seating for seven, and a 40:60 split-folding rear seat that allows for up to 39.6 cubic feet of rear storage space.

The cargo version, dubbed the ID.Buzz Cargo, will be available in a single row containing three seats. Behind the seats is a fixed partition to which a window and a long cargo opening can be attached. Space for this model is up to 137.7 cubic feet.

Underpinning the ID.Buzz is the flexible, EV-specific MEB platform, which is already featured in several VW Group vehicles, including VW's ID.4, which is already available in US showrooms. The ID.Buzz is currently presented in one configuration (more configurations will be added gradually from 2023 onwards). It consists of an 82 kWh battery mounted on the floor and one electric motor with a rated output of 201 hp and a maximum torque of 229 lb-ft. This motor allows the car to reach a top speed of 90 mph; VW does not mention a range, but says that a DC fast charger can complete a 5-80% charge in just 30 minutes. The European version will also be capable of bidirectional charging.

The design is modern, but retro influences cannot be ignored. For example, the VW logo on the front is much larger than on the current model, a nod to the original bus. Also, the V-shaped motif on the front, which is characteristic of the ID.Buzz, should not be overlooked.

The interior also has special touches, with stylized vehicle silhouettes embossed on the trim below the side seats and on the folding table on the front seat backs, as well as a steering column stalk that doubles as a gear selector. The dash design is similar to other ID-badged models, and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and 10-inch infotainment screen are standard. The infotainment screen can be replaced with a 12-inch one. To the left of the steering wheel is a row of physical buttons for operating key functions such as the lights and the heating and defrosting of the windshield and rear glass.

Like all ID-badged models, the ID.Buzz is equipped with the ID.Light warning system. This is a thin LED strip stretched across the windshield that provides information according to the color and position of the light signal. For example, if it glows red, it warns the driver to brake; if it glows on either side, it indicates vehicles in the blind spot or navigation instructions for changing lanes.

Buyers can choose from several funky colors, including four two-tone options. They can also choose from a variety of wheel patterns ranging from 18" to 21".

Production of the ID.Buzz takes place at VW's plant in Hannover, Germany. This is the same plant that produces the T-series of vans that VW sells abroad; the T-series is actually the direct successor to the original microbus, which entered its seventh generation last year.