VW’s First Electric Crossover Debuts

Volkswagen has revealed the I.D. Crozz, the latest in its line of electric concept cars. the Crozz joins the I.D. family as the latest indication of what VW thinks will be possible with its MEB platform, though this one, says the automaker, is about as clear an indication of its intentions as ever there could be.

“If it was ever possible to make a one-hundred percent certain prediction of what the future will look like, here it is,” said VW’s head of design, Klaus Bischoff, in a statement. “In 2017, we are showing how Volkswagen will be transforming the roadscape from 2020.”

At 182 inches long and 74 inches wide, the I.D. Crozz is a little smaller than the new European Tiguan and has more than 300 hp and AWD. With roughly 200 hp going to the back wheels and the remaining 100 hp at the front, the Crozz can deliver power wherever it’s needed.

If, for instance, you were offroading, the Crozz can send power to all four wheels, but for city driving, it can conserve energy by only powering certain wheels.

Thanks to that power saving ability, the I.D. Crozz can go up to 311 miles on a charge, and with fast charging it can recharge up to 80% in just 30 minutes.

Although the I.D. Crozz is a crossover, it’s roofline is much lower than that of, say, a Tiguan. That’s because VW designers have imbued it with the lines of a Coupe. That coupe-like quality is more than just skin deep.

Thanks to its low center of gravity (the bulk of the weight is kept below the floor in the battery packs), its 48-52 weight distribution, its ability to precisely direct power to the wheel that needs it, and its multi-link rear suspension VW says that the I.D. Crozz will have all the performance of a GTI.

As well as being a driver’s car, though, VW says this concept is driverless, thanks to I.D. Pilot which can take over driving duties. As with VW’s other I.D. concepts, touching the VW badge at the center of the steering wheel causes it to retract into the dash, allowing for more space in the driver’s compartment while the car drives itself.

Also as with the other I.D. concepts, the Crozz’s interior is open concept, with seats that rearrange, and in this case, can fold up like a cinema seat to allow for more storage inside. Revealingly, VW seems to suggest in its press material that it will bring autonomous driving to dealerships in 2025.

In the meantime, then, the car’s based on this concept could also get augmented reality, which here is manifested in colored lights that highlight hazards through the windshield. For example, if a pedestrian walks into your periphery, they will be highlighted by the windshield, subtly warning you of the danger.

The I.D. Crozz is VW’s third electric concept, following the I.D. compact hatchback and the I.D. Buzz, microbus. Those two showed the extremes of scale that the MEB platform can handle. The Crozz, meanwhile, seems to be a demonstration of what VW really thinks will sell. Rumors suggest that one more I.D. concept is still forthcoming, a sedan. That is expected to debut at the Frankfurt auto show this fall.

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