Stylish new VW I.D. Crozz unveiled at Shanghai motor show
Third model in I.D. range is an all-electric SUV with coupe styling and 311-mile range
Volkswagen has shown off the third all-electric car in its new I.D. range at the Shanghai motor show. Following on from the five-door hatchback we saw last year (as well as the I.D. Buzz microbus), the new I.D. Crozz is the next step up in the hierarchy – a five door crossover with interior space comparable to that of a Tiguan, but without the boxy styling associated with most practical family cars. Like the I.D. hatchback, it’s designed to be fully autonomous.
The I.D. Crozz is no off-roader – it’s around 40mm lower than the VW Tiguan, meaning it’s only intended for on-road use. It’s longer and wider than the Tiguan, too – around 200mm longer and 50mm wider, giving it a more purposeful stance on the road.
Despite the lower silhouette, Volkswagen claims the I.D. Crozz has interior space to rival the long-wheelbase Tiguan Allspace. We can thank the firm’s MEB chassis technology for that – the all-electric platform frees up passenger space thanks to long wheelbases, short overhangs and an obvious lack of an internal combustion engine. Boot space matches up to standard SUVs too, with 515 litres on offer despite the sloping roofline.
Access to the interior is made easier too, thanks to Ford B-MAX style sliding doors at the rear and the total lack of a B-pillar.
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That roofline gives a coupe-SUV flavour to the styling of the I.D. Crozz – similar to the Audi e-tron concept we’ve seen a few sketches of. The rest of the exterior styling takes its cues from the I.D. hatch, and features animated headlights to communicate with other road users when driving autonomously. In keeping with the SUV character, the Crozz has flared-out wheelarches and more muscular detailing overall.
The I.D. is powered by two electric motors. The front wheels are driven by a 75kW motor, while the rear uses a 150kW motor. With a standard 83kWh battery VW claims the I.D. Crozz is good for a range of 500km or 311 miles, and a 150kW fast-charge station can take it from zero to 80 per cent charge in as little as 30 minutes.
In most situations, the car is rear-drive only, with the front wheels only kicking in under slippery conditions. Suspension is multi-link at the rear and MacPherson struts at the front, and VW also claims the Crozz has an unusual amount of agility for such a large crossover. That’s due to 48/52 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity thanks to the electric powertrain.
In the cabin, things are as futuristic as you’d expect, and the Crozz mirrors the I.D. hatchback for the most part. That means a minimalist dash design with a retractable steering wheel to free up space when driving in autonomous mode. The Crozz also adds a secondary touchscreen to control infotainment and air conditioning, plus the usual glut of sophisticated voice control, gesture control and ambient lighting. Another interesting touch is compatibility with delivery services, to allow packages to be delivered right to your boot without you having to be available.
We’d expect the Volkswagen I.D. Crozz to hit the market sometime after 2020, with a price comparable to a high-spec Volkswagen Tiguan.
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