Volkswagen Previews 7-Seat Electric SUV

Volkswagen previews an electric-powered I.D. concept car called the Roomzz in a pair of teaser sketches released to media ahead of the new SUV’s planned unveiling at the 2019 Shanghai auto show later this month.

The fifth in a range of concepts intended for production under Volkswagen’s new I.D. electric car sub-brand, the Roomzz has been conceived to complement the smaller Crozz, but with a longer wheelbase and wider track providing it with space for up to seven occupants in three rows of seats.

“The I.D. Roomzz shows us what we can expect from fullsize electric SUVs in the future. The puristic look emphasizes the clear function and the user experience is intuitive and natural,” says Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen design chief.

VW is developing the Roomzz as a luxurious range-topping model with exterior dimensions similar to the more conventional combustion-engine Tiguan Allspace but with interior space described as being on par with the larger Touareg.

Based on the second-largest version of VW’s new MEB platform with a 129.9-in. (3,300-mm) wheelbase – the same version of the EV architecture that will underpin the production version of the I.D. Buzz – the I.D. Roomzz is meant to rival the likes of the Tesla Model X, Mercedes-Benz EQ C and Audi e-tron quattro.

Power for the all-wheel-drive SUV will come from a driveline similar to that featured in the I.D. Buzz. It uses two electric motors, one acting on the front wheels and the other powering the rear wheels, delivering a combined system output of 369 hp.

As hinted at by the earlier I.D. Buzz concept, the production version of the Roomzz is expected to receive a 111-kWh lithium-ion battery and have a range of up to 372 miles (599 km).

Volkswagen says its latest concept car “sets trendsetting impulses when it comes to variability of the interior.” It features new seat configurations and customizable lighting.

Originally developed under the name I.D. Lounge, the new EV is expected to receive a numerical designation when it sees production in 2021.

In previewing the Roomzz, VW confirms the concept will feature Level 4 autonomous driving functions in a system called I.D. Pilot. It allows the SUV to be “driven autonomously without an active driver,” according to the German automaker.