Volkswagen has come to this year’s IAA Mobility Expo in Munich with a fully electric compact SUV called the ID. Cross. It is still a concept at this time, but the company plans to launch production next year, selling the EV side-by-side with the gas-powered T-Cross.
If you remember the Skoda Epiq SUV introduced a year and a half ago, it’s closely related to the ID. Cross seen here. Both ride on the MEB+ platform suited for larger electric vehicles and have front-wheel drive. Compared to the original MEB architecture, the new Plus version promises superior motors, batteries and software.
The SUV comes in at 4,161 mm (162.5 inches) long, 1,839 mm (71.8 inches) wide and 1,588 mm (62 inches) tall with 2,601 mm (101.6 inches) between the axles. As such, it is slightly longer than the T-Cross with an extra 50 mm (2 inches) of wheelbase. The trunk size is average at 450 liters (15.9 cubic feet), but there’s also a 25-liter frunk under the hood.
The company didn’t reveal the production start date, but the car it showed looked pretty much finalized. The 21-inch wheels are perhaps the only thing that may not make it into the production spec.
Power for the ID. Cross comes from a 211-PS (208-hp / 155-kW) electric motor linked to a floor-mounted battery pack. Its capacity is unknown, but the company promises around 420 kilometers (261 miles) of WLTP range. The top speed is capped at 175 km/h (108 mph). Last but not least, it’s already official that the SUV will be able to tow trailers weighing up to 1.2 metric tons, or 2,645 lbs.
The interior is trimmed with cloth and features a steering wheel with physical buttons, an 11-inch digital dashboard and a 13-inch infotainment display. Volkswagen claims that the software updates it made will unlock features normally reserved to premium vehicles, such as the latest version of the Travel Assist ADAS package.
