Possibly one of the most significant things to so far come out of Auto Shanghai 2017 was courtesy of Volkswagen with the introduction of the I.D. CROZZ concept—the company’s first electrically powered crossover utility vehicle (CUV) based off the new Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). VW says it is developing a new fleet of electric vehicles that will start full production in 2020.
A four-door coupe and sport utility vehicle (SUV) in one, the I.D. CROZZ is the third version of the I.D. family from the automaker, which follows the debuts of the I.D. in Paris in 2016 and I.D. BUZZ in Detroit in 2017.
Volkswagen's aim is to transfer electric drive systems from start-up niche to high-volume full production by the middle of the next decade. "By 2025, we want to have sales of pure electric vehicles up to one million units a year. The I.D. CROZZ will play a key role in that. Production will start in 2020," Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Brand, said in a release.
A sporty, zero-emission all-rounder with electric all-wheel drive, the crossover utility vehicle is suited to both urban areas and rough terrain. The I.D. CROZZ is claimed to deliver 302 hp (225 kW) and has a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h) and has a range of 311 miles (500 km) on the New European Driving Cycle. According to VW, the battery of the I.D. CROZZ can be charged to 80% in just 30 minutes (with a 15-kW DC fast charger).
The VW concept is more compact and has a lower roofline than the all-new VW 2018 Tiguan, yet the CUV provides just as much space. The key to this is the car's design: like the I.D. and I.D. BUZZ, the I.D. CROZZ is also based on the newly conceived MEB. The MEB models have a very long wheelbase, with compact powertrain components and a battery that is housed in the CUV’s floor.
The I.D. CROZZ illustrates the adaptability of the MEB architecture: the drive system components—two motors, the high-voltage battery and the electronics that link everything together—are incorporated into the car's overall package. This gives the designers and engineers complete freedom to change the way in which the car is designed, says VW. The interior space is generously proportioned, providing a true “open space.”
The vehicle’s cockpit has augmented reality head-up display, Active Info Display, infotainment tablet and door panel controls.
In addition, when in “I.D. Pilot” mode the I.D. CROZZ drives autonomously. To activate the fully automatic “I.D. Pilot” mode the driver simply has to deliberately touch the VW logo on the steering wheel for three seconds and the I.D. CROZZ assumes control, according to VW.