Frankfurt show: VW crosses over with ID Crozz

VOLKSWAGEN will bring to market its first all-electric crossover in 2020, previewed by the ID Crozz revealed at this week’s Frankfurt motor show, that will become the brand’s second emissions-free vehicle after the release of the four-door ID small car in the same year.

Built on the German car giant’s new ‘all-electric architecture’, which will also underpin its other ID-branded models, the battery-powered SUV is expected to arrive with a driving range of up to 500km, a top speed of 180km/h and a system output of 225kW.

With an electric motor powering each axle, the ID Crozz sports an electric 4Motion all-wheel-drive system that Volkswagen says is “as impressive on unpaved trails as it is in adverse weather conditions”.

According to the brand, the high-performance battery can be charged up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes thanks to a fast-charging system, while the positioning of its batteries for ideal weight distribution “enables the new ID Crozz to demonstrate handling characteristics on par with those of a Golf GTI”.

From the outside, the ID Crozz sports sleek, futuristic styling with a high waistline, wide bonnet and sloping roof design reminiscent of the Aston Martin DBX concept from the 2015 Geneva motor show.

Volkswagen calls it a blend between an SUV and a four-door coupe with the Frankfurt show car finished in an eye-catching Hibiscus Red Metallic colour with a contrasting high-gloss black roof.

The front LED headlights form a unique lighting signature thanks to the elongated hexagon shape, while the tail-lights are slim, wraparound units.

Without a B-pillar in place, the ID Crozz’s swing-open doors open centrally – wide enough to accommodate a bicycle without any trouble – to reveal a four-seat arrangement with a minimalist cabin design.

A ClearAir filtration system is fitted to ensure a clean supply of air inside the cabin at all times with levels of pollutants able to be displayed onscreen, while voice-activated controls can open or close doors and trigger the ID Crozz’s self-driving ID Pilot mode.

Alongside the release of the ID Crozz in 2020, Volkswagen will also launch its production ID in the small car segment in the same year before the ID Buzz (an all-electric re-interpretation of the Bulli/Kombi) is readied in 2022.

Also announced alongside the reveal of the ID Crozz, Volkswagen Brand chairman of the board of management Herbert Diess confirmed an investment of €6 billion ($A8.94 billion) into electric vehicle technologies over the next five years which will see 23 all-electric models available from the German car-maker by 2025.