ID. Buggy Wins Audience Award At Concours d’Elegance Where Haute Couture And Cars Share The Catwalk

The ID. Buggy is part of Volkswagen’s versatile range of modular electric drive matrix (MEB) emission-free vehicles, which includes the Buzz1 van, Crozz1 SUV and Vizzion1 sedan. The Buggy is the fifth concept based on this platform and, having been globally revealed at the Geneva Auto Show in March this year to an enthusiastic crowd, it made its first big appearance at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille held in Chantilly, France. Along with some stunning automotive designs and an haute couture creation by the Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester, the ID. Buggy impressed the crowds enough to win the audience award.

The concept for this event is rather unique; world-famous fashion designers tailor haute couture dresses to match the vehicles. At the parade, models walk next to the cars on the catwalk. “Chantilly is an industry highlight where the most exquisite automobiles meet an interested and savvy audience. I cannot imagine a better environment for the future design of our brand,” said Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Bischoff.

The ID.Buggy takes the classic Californian dune buggy designs of the ’60s and ’70s and reimagines it for the future. Instead of the Beetle-derived flat-four motor in the rear there is now a 204hp electric motor powering the rear wheels. The minimalist interior and lack of any doors or roof add to the fun-loving nature of the car and, thanks to the flexible nature of the MEB platform, can be designed in a number of configurations other than the open-topped two-seater layout of the show car. Whether or not it makes production—or we hope it does—the underlying technology is bound to be seen in future EVs.

Images courtesy of Volkswagen