According to an Autocar report, Volkswagen will introduce a
seven-seat flagship SUV, known internally – and perhaps temporarily – as the
I.D. Lounge.
A concept model is said to be displayed at the
Shanghai Motor Show in April 2019, and its exterior and interior dimensions
would be similar to the outgoing Touareg. Underpinning the Lounge will be the
largest version of Volkswagen’s new MEB platform (shared with the I.D. Buzz),
featuring a staggeringly long wheelbase of 3,300 mm. At launch, it will rival
the Tesla Model X and Nio ES8.
Its electrical driveline could also be similar to
the I.D. Buzz, which uses two electric motors (each producing 201 hp) to drive
all four wheels. The new age Microbus boasts a total system output of 369 hp,
and uses a 111 kWh battery that provides a range of 600 km on the NEDC cycle. Expect the same charging system
(via Combined Charging System or inductive charging) to be featured, as well as
fast-charging capabilities which allow the battery to be juiced up to 80% in
just 30 minutes.
The I.D. Lounge is among three all-electric SUV
models that will be introduced by 2022, with the other two being the I.D. Crozz
(available in two versions). The first I.D. Crozz model to go on sale is
apparently the more practical model, while the second features a coupé-like
profile similar in appearance to the earlier I.D. Crozz concept.
The introduction of the I.D. Lounge is another one
of Volkswagen’s steps in the direction of Strategy 2025, which plots the
company on a course to launch 30 new, fully electric vehicles by 2025. The company will be investing
heavily in new autonomous mobility solutions, with fully autonomous vehicles
with a self-driving system developed in-house scheduled to enter the market by
the beginning of the next decade. The automaker is also looking to make battery
technology one of its core competencies, stating this would be the key to
e-mobility.
