VW was caught
testing a weird-looking Golf Sportsvan, which is the German automaker’s way of
developing one of its upcoming battery-electric ID models without attracting
too much attention. The tall body of the Golf Sportsvan does a pretty good job
at hiding the true nature of the pictured test car, but if you look closely,
you’ll notice things like the slightly different front end, the fatter side
sills and of course the complete lack of any exhaust tips.
With VW planning to
introduce a pair of compact electric SUVs inspired by the ID Crozz concept,
this test mule right here might just be the first real-world sighting of the
2020 ID-badged crossovers. Volkswagen is set to use a dedicated architecture
for all of its upcoming battery electric vehicles, the MEB modular platform.
The skateboard-like underpinnings will feature the battery pack mounted within
the floorpan for the lowest possible weight center and better road-holding.
While the upcoming ID
hatchback will employ a rear-mounted electric motor and rear-wheel drive for
more efficient packaging, VW’s upcoming electric SUVs will feature two electric
motors, one mounted on each axle, making them all-wheel drive and adding more
performance into the mix. The ID Crozz concept came with a combined 301 hp and a
driving range of up to 500k m.
Prepare to see more
of these electric VW test cars in the coming months, as the German automaker
has promised to essentially flood the market with zero-emissions models by the
end of 2022, with no less than 27 MEB-based vehicles currently being in the
pipeline.
