Volkswagen premieres fully-electric ID.4 SUV

The world premiere of Volkswagen’s first fully electric SUV, the ID.4, is now upon us. Based on the German carmaker’s scalable modular electric propulsion Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukasten (MEB) platform, the new SUV will be built using carbon-neutral production and produce zero local emissions.

The name ID.4 is an abbreviation for intelligent design, visionary and identity technologies, with the number 4 signifying the vehicle’s number in the succession of Volkswagen’s new battery-powered compact SUV family.

The ID.4's aerodynamically refined appearance showcases the MEB's radical architecture: a short front end and long wheelbase, which helps keep the car compact without sacrificing interior space. Drivers and passengers will enjoy sitting in ID.4's ‘open space’ cabin, which gives the interior a bright, airy, and welcoming atmosphere.

Its cockpit has been clearly structured, using almost-100 percent touch functions – one of which diagonally measures up to 12 inches and features touch functionality – and intelligent “Hello ID.” natural voice control. Moreover, Volkswagen's first all-electric SUV features high levels of safety technologies and full connectivity. Other key cabin tech features are as follows:

• Light – a narrow light strip under the windscreen – provides drivers with intuitive support.
• An optionally available augmented reality head-up display (HUD) – blends a host of displays with reality – for instance, navigation arrows telling drivers to turn off are projected onto the road surface in exactly the right lane.
• The Discover Pro navigation system – brings We Connect Start online services on board.
• Drive assist systems – make driving an even more relaxed experience and this particularly applies to the onboard Travel Assist feature.

In addition, software and hardware in the ID.4 have been allows over-the-air updates to the car after the purchase.

The ID.4's modular drive parts initially include a rear-wheel drive and later on, a powerful, electric all-wheel-drive option. To make the vehicle's center of gravity low and distributed well, Volkswagen has placed the high-voltage battery under the passenger cell. Depending on the drive train package, this extends the ID.4’s distance range for up to 520kms according to WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) test cycles.

The electric drive motor, strategically placed at the rear axle, produces 201hp of power, good for a 0 to 100kmph acceleration time of 8.5secs and a top speed of 160kmph. Thanks to the rear-wheel drive’s strong grip and its 210mm of ground clearance, the E-SUV also performs well under mildly rough off-road conditions.

At the front, massive headlights dominate the front fascia of the Volkswagen’s sporty new electric offering, giving the fascia a friendly, wide-eyed anime look. At the rear, a red light strip connects the LED taillights for a perfect contemporary vibe. At the sides, the rearview mirror housings feature an additional light-related feature, housing a logo projector that emits a diamond-shaped pattern onto the ground once the doors are opened.

“Light is the new chrome,” explains Klaus Zyciora, Volkswagen Group Head of Design. “Light plays a major role, especially for an electric vehicle. It represents energy and electricity, but also warmth and safety. Light is a perfect symbol for the mobility of the future.”

It’s worth re-emphasizing that the ID.4 is the world's first-ever climate-neutral compact SUV. The carbon-neutral vehicle is produced at the brand’s Zwickau plant, and makes comprehensive charging possible with the use of renewable energies.

As of late, Volkswagen has been supplementing the brand’s traditional product portfolio with the ID. family, which represents a new, independent product range for the German brand. The ID.4 SUV is the second fully electric model after the compact ID.3, released earlier this year.

With the ID.4, Volkswagen plans on competing in massive compact SUV market. The ID.4 will be gradually turned into an electrically driven, global car with plans to produce and sell the E-SUV not only in Europe, but also in China and later in the USA. On a whole, Volkswagen brand will be investing eleven billion euros in electric mobility by 2024 as part of the Transform 2025+ strategy.

Interested car buyers can choose from the German marque’s local models, which include the Santana, Santana GTS, Lavida, Lamando, and Tiguan.

Photo/s from Volkswagen

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