Volkswagen Will Try to Enter the Luxury SUV Segment Again With the I.D. Lounge, Framed As a Touareg-Sized EV

TopSpeed

By Jonathan Lopez

Published Dec 13, 2018

Will this be the latest EV sport ute from the German automaker behemoth?

Volkswagen is really doubling down on its electrified offerings as of late, adding a range of battery-powered models to a variety of segments and previewing each with a series of concepts tagged with the I.D. sub-branding. Now, we’re getting some info on what the production I.D. models will bring to the table, including a new SUV rumored to be called the I.D. Lounge.

Battery Power Looks To Be The Way Forward For VW’s Luxury SUVs

Note: 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz Concept pictured here.

In case you were unaware, I.D. is the name Volkswagen uses for its upcoming range of all-electric vehicles, which so far includes a number of concepts and even a race car that managed to dominate Pikes Peak earlier this year. More specifically, the rumors in question here are in regards to the I.D. Crozz, and they come to us courtesy of our friends over at Autocar.

According to the report, the new production I.D. SUV will be built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform. It’ll be about the size of the current production Touareg, more specifically the latest third-generation introduced for the 2019 model year. At the moment, Volkswagen’s mid-sized crossover measures in at 4,801 mm (189 inches) in length, 1,930 mm (76 inches) in width, and 1,727 mm (68 inches) in height.

The new electric SUV is al also expected to carry a seven-seater interior dripping in luxury and high-end tech features. We’re imagining leather, digital screens galore, heating and ventilation for the seats, and endless customizability.

Note: I.D. Crozz Concept pictured here.

Providing the motivation will be a high-spec four-wheel drive system, with a duo of electric motors making the go and one motor per axle. Providing the electrons will be a 111-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Range per charge is tipped to max at 600 km, or 372 miles, while total output should come to 369 horsepower.

When it’s released, the new I.D. will become the fifth entry in the I.D. range and should be primed to take on the Tesla Model X. For now, we could see something more specific at the Shanghai Auto Show next April, with a final on-market release by 2021.

While U.S buyers won’t necessarily salivate at the thought of an all-electric luxury SUV from Volkswagen, this model seems like a particularly solid offering for the Chinese market, where electric power and luxury SUVs are becomingly increasingly popular with every production cycle. It certainly wouldn’t be out of the question to expect a long wheelbase model variant either.

Are you craving a new luxury VW electric SUV? Are you happy with VW’s direction for the I.D. range? Let us know in the comments below.