Return of the VW Microbus

Volkswagen's new I.D. Buzz concept is a self-driving, battery-powered minivan with a style that hearkens back to the Type 2 "Microbus" of the 1950s and 1960s. The very green machine can go 270 miles on a full charge and also sprint to 60 mph in 5 seconds, thanks to the combined 369 horsepower of its front and rear electric motors. When its autonomous I.D. Pilot mode is engaged, a rectangular, spokeless steering wheel tucks away into the dashboard as small disc-shaped laser scanners rise up from the four corners of the roof. This LIDAR system works along with cameras, ultrasonic sensors and cloud-connected navigation to take full control of the vehicle. The three-row interior allows for both front captain's chairs to be turned toward the rear of the vehicle when it's doing the driving to create a lounge space, complete with a central table.