- the i.d. space vizzion concept is vw's seventh ev concept based on its electric-vehicle platform.
- this large wagon promises 300 miles of epa-rated range from its 82.0-kwh battery pack, plus 150-kw dc fast-charging capability and the ability to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds.
- vw is planning some 27 electric vehicles on this architecture, which starts to roll out in production form in 2020, and this one's coming to the u.s. in 2022.
making its debut at the los angeles auto show, the i.d. space vizzion is volkswagen's seventh fanciful electric-vehicle concept based on its modular electric vehicle platform it calls meb.
the meb architecture itself is very much not a concept. it is the foundation for some 27 evs that the company has in the works, part of vw's ambitious plan to sell a whopping three million evs a year (that's more than all evs that will be sold globally in 2019). the first of these will launch in 2020. all will have a battery pack mounted low in the center of the vehicle (82.0 kwh in this case, with 150-kw dc fast-charging capability), with either a single rear motor or front and rear motors. this latest concept promises a 300-mile range rating in the u.s., generating 275 horsepower in rear-drive form or 335 horsepower with the addition of a front motor, the latter scooting to 60 mph in a claimed 5.0 seconds.
as with the other meb-based vehicles, which range from the golf-like compact (id.3) to a revival of the type 2 microbus (i.d. buzz), the space vizzion features a long wheelbase, with short overhangs and a tiresome double-z in its name. roughly the size of a volvo v90 but with a slightly taller roofline, this latest concept is more wagon than crossover, making it a tough sell in the wagon-averse u.s. the first vw ev headed our way will be molded into the endlessly popular compact-crossover shape like the i.d. crozz concept. volkswagen plans to bring it to the u.s. in 2022, volkswagen group of america ceo scott keogh said.
the 22-inch wheels and touch-sensitive areas to actuate the doors will no doubt be dialed back for production, but the augmented-reality head-up display that replaces the traditional gauge cluster as the driver's primary source of information is intended for production, and the space vizzion's large 15.6-inch center screen seems likely to do the same. the fact that the vizzion also employs vegan synthetic leather dubbed appleskin that uses waste from the production of apple juice as in the i.d. roomzz concept, seems to indicate a possible leap to production, too.
we're excited to see vw's grand ev vision start to play out starting next year.