SLUGGISH TO SAVAGE

A 450HP Electric VW Bus That Breaks All the Rules

- JEROME ANDRE

FEW vehicles are as universally loved as the Volkswagen Type 1 Bus. Whether you call it the bus, the Microbus, or the Transporter, this rolling symbol of freedom and adventure has been a staple of surf culture, road trips, and rebellious countercultures since the 1950s. But while its unmistakable shape has aged like fine wine, its original air-cooled flat-four engine—a relic of postwar simplicity—left much to be desired in terms of performance and reliability.

HIDDEN Bisimoto battery boxes house LG Chem 32 kWh battery packs, delivering instant torque and impressive range for this retro masterpiece.

Fast-forward to today, and the once-humble VW bus has been reimagined for the modern era, not just by Volkswagen themselves with the ID. Buzz, but also by one of the most legendary tuners in the game: Bisimoto Engineering. If you know anything about Bisi Ezerioha, you know he doesn't do things by halves. A mechanical engineer and all-around horsepower junkie, Bisi made his name pushing Hondas and Porsches to outrageous limits, with builds that consistently defy expectations. Now, he's turned his attention to electric power, and his 1965 Volkswagen Type 1 Bus is proof that the future of performance is shockingly silent.

TOYO Proxes R888R performance tires (205/40ZR17) provide the grip needed to handle all 449 HP without sacrificing ride comfort.

FROM SLUGGISH TO SPEED DEMON