From：Greg Kable 2019-04-03 13:26:00
Electric-powered concept previews new seven-seat SUV
Volkswagen has previewed a new 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 motor show later this month.
The fifth in a range of concepts intended for production under Volkswagen’s new I.D. electric car sub-brand has been conceived to complement the smaller Crozz, but with a longer wheelbase and wider tracks that are claimed to provide it with interior space for up to seven occupants in three rows of seats.
“The I.D. Roomzz shows us what we can expect from full-size 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 boss.
The Roomzz is being developed by Volkswagen as a luxurious model with exterior dimensions similar to the more conventional combustion engine Tiguan Allspace but interior space described as being on par with the larger Touareg.
Based around the second largest version of Volkswagen’s new MEB platform with a 3300mm wheelbase – the same version of the electric vehicle architecture that is planned to underpin the production version of the I.D. Buzz, the I.D. Roomzz is planned to rival the likes of the Tesla Model X, Mercedes-Benz EQ C and Audi e-tron quattro.
Power for the four-wheel-drive SUV is expected to come from a driveline similar to that featured in the ID 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 275kW.
As hinted at by the earlier ID Buzz concept, the production version of the Roomzz is expected to receive a 111kWh lithium-ion battery and a range of up to 600km.
Volkswagen says its latest concept car “sets trendsetting impulses when it comes to variability of the interior”. It is claimed to boast new seat configurations and customizable lighting.
Originally developed under the name I.D. Lounge, the new four-wheel drive electric-powered Volkswagen is expected to receive a numerical designation when it sees production in 2021.
In previewing the Roomzz, Volkswagen confirmed the new concept will feature Level 4 autonomous driving functions in a system called I.D. Pilot. It allows the new SUV to be “driven autonomously without an active driver”, according to the German car maker.
