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08/31/17
Pebble Beach, California, USA
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"The ID. Buzz – a dream car for Californians"

Teaser_Story_Magnus Walker_ID_Buzz_920x518

Volkswagen presented the I.D. BUZZ in the USA. In Pebble Beach, California, the electric successor, based on the Bulli, captured the imagination of all kinds of people – including some of the scene's most idiosyncratic personalities like Magnus Walker, designer, rocker and Porsche freak.

In the age of digitalization, popularity is generally measured in "likes" and "shares". So one Instagram post from California's Pebble Beach on August 19, 2017 proved to be of particular interest: diverse social media users from the auto scene logged onto "The Lodge at Pebble Beach" to share their impressions. Lots of photos, plenty of videos.

The 67th Concours d'Elegance was held on the Pacific coast during that particular August weekend: a two-hour drive to the south of San Francisco, some 200 of the world's most prized antique and collector's cars measured up to the expectations of a discerning jury. So the Facebook and Instagram posts are full of exclusive oldtimers and extreme sports cars. But one particular motif stands out from the rest. The man in the photo is not wearing a suit, nor is he smoking a cigar. Long dreadlocks frame his face. A full beard covers his chest. His jeans have a pattern of holes and oil stains.

17 Mile Drive with the I.D. Buzz

Although the car he is presenting already has millions of fans, it doesn't cost millions of dollars. Magnus Walker, practically an icon of the auto scene, is pictured driving Volkswagen's latest world premiere, the I.D. BUZZ. The designer from Los Angeles was thrilled: "It was a privilege to drive the Volkswagen ID Buzz on the iconic 17 Mile Drive - many thanks to all at Volkswagen! CheeRS #vwbus #getoutanddrive  #california."

 

From high school dropout to Porsche collector

A documentary film called "Urban Outlaw" caused quite a stir back in 2012. It triggered a real hype about the native Brit, the auto world had a new rock star. The 30-minute movie documents Walker's undying passion for the Porsche 911 and gives an insight into his colorful life. A warehouse in the Arts District of Los Angeles plays a key role: a pretty extensive collection of modified Porsche 911 can be found in this atelier-cum-garage-cum-workshop. Magnus Walker himself is an equally impressive sight: men resplendent with tattoos and hair reminiscent of Jamaican reggae musicians are few and far between among Porsche enthusiasts. And on top of that, this high school dropout can more than hold his own when it comes to talking shop about the sports cars from Swabia.

Surrounded by fans and cameras: Magnus Walker and the I.D. Buzz.

Several thousand watched the movie within just a few days. Walker, who started out as a fashion designer and even dressed stars such as Madonna and Alice Cooper, was overwhelmed by the wave of euphoria from all corners of the world. People loved this eccentric Porsche expert: someone who drills holes through door handles, paints bodywork in multiple colors, and decorates trunk lids, doors and engine hoods with fictitious starting numbers.

 

"Compared to the I.D. BUZZ, every luxury car is boring!"

"Basically, I still live in the old auto world, where engines roar and smell of gas and rubber", the 50-year-old confesses and tugs at his dreadlocks. "But here in California in particular, there are quite a lot of electric cars. Until now, this kind of mobility didn't interest me at all. But when I saw the successor to the Microbus, the I.D. BUZZ, for the first time yesterday I was bowled over," he says, his voice mirroring his enthusiasm. And the Porsche rebel adds: "To me, it's a genuine icon. I heard what people were saying about the new, old Bulli. Euphoric! Compared to the I.D. BUZZ, every luxury car is boring. Wow!"

"Magic!" is how Magnus Walker described his drive in the I.D. Buzz

Magnus Walker got to know the I.D.BUZZ first hand. The Volkswagen team persuaded him to take a spin along 17 Mile Drive with its dramatic views of the Pacific coastline. Walker takes hold of the touch-sensitive retractable steering wheel and gently depresses the accelerator pedal: he is pressed back into the seat as the car silently moves off. That is a totally new experience for him: "But the strange feeling became a magical one as I sped along the coast and, all of a sudden, I could hear the breakers rolling in from the ocean, the seagulls mewing … fantastic!" is how Walker describes this exotic feeling.

"Then I stopped at the side of the road and climbed into the back. You get such a sense of space – and those big windows…. That was the climax of my ride! I don't think I've ever had such an intensive encounter with a car. I know the I.D.BUZZ is totally futuristic, but it awoke an old longing in me: to be at one with the moment and to savor the fullness to the very last drop", he says in philosophical mood.

Later, Walker discusses things with Klaus Bischoff. Volkswagen's design chief has also come to Pebble Beach. Walker asks about the development process for the I.D. BUZZ, and Bischoff explains: "We are 100% motivated with the I.D. BUZZ! Simplicity is paramount for the concept. We want to evoke the T1, but we don't want to imitate it. So we have an original red-and-white T1 in our design studio." Bischoff adds: "We keep on going over to the Bulli, open the sliding door, sit down, catch inspiration, talk and let our thoughts run free. We still have time before series production begins. And we will be doing some fine-tuning before then. I'm really looking forward to the day I see the friendly face of the I.D. BUZZ on the road!"

Magnus Walker enjoyed some other spectacular test drives during the Pebble Beach Automotive Week. He is a real crowd-puller. And here in Monterey, publicity is everything. He shared his impressions of the week on Instagram: "I got to drive a variety of cars over the past few days - the Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ was defiantly a memorable one #vwbus."

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