Volkswagen debuts and details ID.4 electric SUV

SIX months after first breaking cover, Volkswagen has officially debuted its new ID.4, a rear-wheel-drive all-electric SUV promising up to 520km of range and 150kW of power.

Powered by a 77kWh battery pack stashed under the floor, the ID.4 is underpinned by Volkswagen’s MEB electric platform and measures in at 4.58m long, placing it squarely in the booming and ever-crowded compact SUV market.

Unlike its traditionally powered rivals however, the ID.4 boasts the sort interior space usually associated with a mid-sized SUV with 543 litres of boost space on offer, a figure which expands to 1575L when the rear seats are folded down.

This spaciousness is afforded by the obvious lack of an internal combustion engine, allowing the cabin to encroach on areas that would normally be occupied by the powertrain.

According to Volkswagen executives, aerodynamics were a key part of the ID.4’s design process with very few sharp lines to be seen anywhere around the body and a largely closed-in front end contributing to its 0.28 drag coefficient and in turn, its 520km range.

The front is characterised by its LED light signature which not only circumnavigates the LED headlights, but also bridges what would be the grille on an ICE vehicle, stopping just shy of the centrally mounted VW badge.

A prominent contour line across the nose of the car gives way to a concave front bumper comprising of a large black mesh grille, above which resides two smaller intakes adorning the front of the wheelarches.

The flanks of the car are headlined by a flowing parabolic line, complemented by a parallel window line which flicks up to meet a particularly thick C-pillar.

At the rear, the tail-light arrangement mimics that of the front in its light signature, as does the rear bumper with its concave black insert and matching indents.

Inside the cabin, the dashboard is ruled by the relative lack of an instrument cluster.

In place of the normal dials and/or virtual cockpit, a small screen is nestled in behind the steering wheel, seemingly poking up directly from the dashboard.

As for the rest of the interfaces, an infotainment touchscreen measuring up to 12 inches in diameter has been perched prominently on the centre fascia above a select few buttons and a set of narrow air vents, all oriented towards the driver.

Buttons that would typically be found on a stalk meanwhile – headlights, foglights and window demisters – have been moved to a small cluster on the dash next to the steering wheel.

Being an EV, the centre console is completely free of a gear selector with a set of cupholders and large storage compartment occupying the space instead.

While local pricing, specification and even timing are yet to be revealed, Volkswagen says all ID.4s will come with ID.Light, Discover Pro navigation system, Hello ID. voice command, We Connect Start online services and a range IQ.Drive assist systems as standard.

According to Volkswagen chief executive Ralf Brandstätter, the ID.4 is “an emotional all-rounder” that is sure to “impress many customers with its efficient electric drive, generous amount of space, modern assist systems and powerful design”.

“As the first global electric car, this model will roll out our modular electric drive matrix platform that has been developed specifically for electric mobility the world over,” he said.

“Volkswagen is thus once again demonstrating its leading role in innovation, technology and quality on the high-volume market.”

In terms of recharging capabilities, Volkswagen says the ID.4 can be recharged to up to 320km range in just 30 minutes when hooked up to a DC fast-charging station.

At this stage it is unclear when the ID.4 will touch down locally with Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) corporate communications general manager Paul Pottinger telling GoAuto the local subsidiary’s ID. rollout is slated to begin in 2022, however it is not known yet what model will kick things off.

“While ID4 would be a perfect commencement to Volkswagen’s EV rollout, we cannot at this time confirm our debutant, which is envisaged in 2022,” he said.

So far this year VGA has sold 26,090 vehicles across its 21-model line-up so far this year ending August, 23 per cent down on the 33,893 it managed over the same period last year.