Volkswagen Microbus concept to be called “BUDD.e”

Volkswagen has tweeted the name of its soon-to-be-revealed all-electric vehicle it will unveil at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week.

The tweet, revealed yesterday, appears to show the new Microbus concept will be called the “BUDD.e”.

The name follows on from the last 2011 Microbus concept that was called the Bulli.

Yesterday, Volkswagen released a short video tease of how the all-electric mini people mover is shaping up.

As already reported, the BUDD.e will be made at Volkswagen’s Puebla factory in Mexico and be on sale in 2017.

Using the latest Volkswagen Group lithium-ion battery technology, the production version of a Microbus is expected to have a range as great as 500km.

Despite its emphasis on pure-electric power, both a conventional small turbo and efficient diesel will follow.

Back in 2011, the Bulli (pictured) was powered by a 40kWh lithium-ion battery pack that sat below the floor. With an electric motor that produced 85kW, the concept was capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in 11.5 seconds with a top speed of 130km/h.

The new BUDD.e is expected to improve on all those figures. It’s also helped, post-Dieselgate, the zero-emission vehicle will help rehabilitate the German car-maker’s brand.