Volkswagen Unveils ID. Family Flagship
After the now customary teasing, Volkswagen has finally officially unveiled its new ID. family concept BEV initially aimed at the mid-sector Chinese market.
The ID. Aero concept claims sleek aerodynamic design coupled with generous cabin space. The production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. The vehicle is more than 16 feet long to harness the aerodynamic equation of length versus frontal area. It features a radically sloping roof to the rear in coupé style and contributes to achieving an excellent drag coefficient of 0.23. Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) allows short overhangs, a long wheelbase and a large spacious interior. The ID. Aero is equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a net energy content of 77 kWh. Thanks to the interaction of the efficient drive system and the excellent aerodynamic properties, the ID. Aero claims ranges of up to 384 miles on the WLTP rating to cope with most long journeys.
Volkswagen says that as the new flagship model of the ID. family, the car will be offered globally in future – also in Europe and North America in addition to China. Production of the European version in Emden. It is expected that the production version of the ID. Aero for Europe will roll off the assembly line in the Emden plant in 2023. With volume production of electric vehicles, Emden will be one of the first Volkswagen plants of this kind in Lower Saxony and will make a decisive contribution to electrifying the model range and reducing the CO2 emissions of the overall new vehicle fleet.
Ralf Brandstätter, chief executive officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said: “With the ID. Aero show car, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family. A car with an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design, a range of over 600 kilometres, an extraordinary amount of space and a premium interior. With our Accelerate strategy, we are intensively driving forward the electrification of our model range. Following the ID.4, this model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the US.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
