Reborn Volkswagen Kombi confirmed for Oz

The Volkswagen Beetle might be dead, but the born-again Kombi will replace it as the VW icon for a new generation – both globally and in Australia.

The most recognisable Volkswagen ever produced was axed in Australia in 2016 and the German car-maker last month confirmed it will not be reincarnated as an all-electric rival for the MINI E or Fiat 500 EV when Beetle production finally stops in Mexico later this year.

But don’t throw your sunflower pot away, because taking the Beetle’s place as Volkswagen’s latest retro icon will be a new-generation Kombi, which will make even bigger strides over the original 1950s Type 2 van than the New Beetle made over the 1938 Type 1 in 1998.

As we’ve reported repeatedly, the born-again Kombi will be one of seven all-new battery-powered VW ‘I.D.’ models to be produced from 2020, all based on the German giant’s new dedicated electric vehicle platform dubbed MEB and all of them already previewed by concept versions.

These include the Kombi-channeling I.D. Buzz people-mover, a commercial van version called the I.D. Cargo, a small hatch to be labelled the I.D. Neo, a convertible known as the I.D. Buggy, a sedan dubbed I.D. Vizzion, a compact SUV previewed by the I.D. Crozz and a large SUV for China in the I.D. Roomzz shown at today’s Shanghai motor show.

Final production versions of a range of I.D. models are expected to appear at the Frankfurt show in September, but all of them promise sizeable performance and range figures.

The largest and most recently revealed I.D. — the Touareg-size 225kW all-wheel drive Roomzz seven-seat SUV — is claimed to offer 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.6 seconds and a 450km range.

Of these just four VW I.D. models are likely to come Down Under, where Volkswagen Australia last year said the Neo would be the first to arrive, in 2021.

Now it says the VW I.D. family’s Australian model rollout will be dependent on production availability and that its local introduction is more likely to take place in 2022.

That’s the same year Volkswagen has targeted for production of the I.D. Buzz, which will follow the Neo and other I.D. models on sale globally.

However, Volkswagen Australia spokesman Kurt McGuiness made it clear to carsales.com.au that Australia will still be among the first markets outside Europe, China and the US to receive I.D. models — of which the Buzz, Cargo, Neo and Crozz are all but guaranteed.

“Volkswagen will bring the I.D. family to Australia, at this stage from 2022, and we’re interested in the [Neo] hatch, [Crozz] SUV and [Buzz] people-mover,” he said.

“The latter makes the most sense in Australia not only from a feel-good point of view but also because of its corporate social responsibility value to companies and the [Cargo] commercial version’s applicability to fleets.

“Like the original Kombi, it can be people-mover, camper and commercial van too.”

McGuiness said that pricing and specifications for any I.D. models was yet to be announced globally, but suggested the 21st century Kombi people-mover would be price in line with VW’s Transporter-based Caravelle (currently priced from $52,590).

Meantime, the I.D. Neo hatch could line up with the Hyundai IONIQ Electric (from $44,490) and Nissan’s upcoming LEAF II (from $49,990), while the VW I.D. Crozz SUV is likely to be aimed directly at the only mainstream electric SUV currently available, the Hyundai Kona Electric (from $59,990).

Volkswagen’s Czech sister brand has also committed to its first MEB-based EV, earlier this month previewing a stylish coupe-crossover concept dubbed the Vision iV, which it says it will produce in 2021.

Like Volkswagen Australia, Skoda Australia says it will skip plug-in hybrid versions of existing models and go straight to pure-electric models here, but admits that could be

“Skoda Australia is interested in EVs too, depending on their availability,” said McGuiness.

“In Australia, Skoda is an early-adopter brand rather than being cheap and cheerful as it is elsewhere, and our buyers are among the most highly educated in the world.”

Skoda Australia’s next all-new model will be the Rapid-replacing Scala hatchback (in the second quarter of next year), followed by the additional Kamiq small SUV (mid-2020) and the redesigned Octavia (late 2020).

However, before all that – potentially as soon as this year – Skoda Australia could convince the Volkswagen Group to change its classification of our country as a ‘hot market’, allowing the rapid 176kW Kodiaq RS to be sold here.

“We’re working on it,” said McGuiness. “Watch this space.”