Volkswagen to Unveil 7-Seat Electric SUV

Volkswagen will unveil the fifth member of its new I.D. range of electric models at the Shanghai auto show in April.

The new 7-seat SUV, which goes under the internal working title I.D. Lounge, is being developed as a luxurious range-topping model with exterior and interior dimensions like those of the German automaker’s new third-generation Touareg.

Based on the largest version of Volkswagen’s new MEB platform – as used by the I.D. Buzz van with a wheelbase of 112.2 ins. (3,300 mm) – the I.D. Lounge would join VW’s lineup in 2021 as a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model X and Chinese-market Nio ES8.

Power for the all-wheel-drive I.D. Lounge is expected to come from a driveline similar to the I.D. Buzz’s. It uses two electric motors, one driving the front wheels and the other powering the rear wheels, delivering a combined 369 hp.

As hinted at by the earlier I.D. Buzz concept, the most luxurious of Volkswagen’s upcoming I.D. models is expected to receive a 111-kWh lithium-ion battery providing a range of up to 372 miles (600 km).

The I.D. Lounge is among three electric-powered SUV models VW plans to introduce by the end of 2022. It will join two versions of the high-riding I.D. Crozz, each with its own distinct bodystyle.

The first I.D. Crozz model, going on sale in 2021, is described as the more practical, with the second featuring a coupe-like profile similar in appearance to the earlier I.D. Crozz concept car due in showrooms in 2022.

VW officials, meanwhile, deny rumors suggesting the first I.D. model, a hatchback, will be called the NEO, saying that name was an internal working title. WardsAuto understands it will be called the I.D. 3, with further I.D. models also set to adopt numeric designations.