New Models
New Models

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 models revealed early in leaked pictures

The electric SUV has broken cover in ID.4 X and ID.4 Crozz forms, ahead of schedule thanks to a Chinese government body.


Volkswagen's 2021 ID.4 X and ID.4 Crozz electric SUVs have been revealed early thanks to leaked official photos shared with a regulatory body in China.

The ID.4 will be Volkswagen's first all-electric SUV and is scheduled to launch in China, Europe and the United States sometime in 2020, although Volkswagen is yet to confirm an official date (it was originally scheduled to debut at the cancelled New York Motor Show in April).

As reported by Carscoops, China requires auto brands to share photos of upcoming models with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) before they launch. This is not unusual, globally, although lower-detail renderings or diagrams will usually suffice as part of a design patent application.

MIIT, which is responsible for the regulation of technology production in the country, then reportedly posts these photos on its official website, where they were spotted and shared on a Volkswagen fan forum.

Above: The ID.4 Crozz

As a result, we've been offered our first glimpse of VW's incoming electric model range in two variants: the ID.4 X and the ID.4 Crozz.

Pictured in grey, the ID.4 X is the larger of the pair, although both models share the same wheelbase, are the same width and each seat five occupants.

The production version of the SUV doesn't appear to have changed much from teaser images released by VW earlier this year, with the ID.4 sharing its sleek, minimal design with the ID.3 hatchback.

Above: The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 X.

The Crozz – pictured in white – is the slightly smaller crossover offering, shorter in length and height than the X. The leaked images of the Crozz also reveal a number of available wheel options for the SUV.

'Crozz' is a nod to the 'ID Crozz' name the model wore when it debuted in concept form at the 2017 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Both models are expected to be powered by the same 150kW/310Nm electric motor found in the ID.3, which will send power to the rear wheels only.

VW has previously stated the ID.4 will have an electric range of up to 500km, depending on the drive package, with an electric all-wheel-drive version to be added at a late date.

Above: The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Crozz.

"The high-voltage battery is positioned near the center of the underbody to create a low centre of gravity and an optimum in terms of driving dynamics, along with an extremely well-balanced axle load distribution," Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen brand, said of the 2021 ID.4 at a press conference in March 2020.

"Just like all other MEB models, the ID.4 offers plenty of interior space thanks to its compact, electric drive technology. The fully digital cockpit of the zero-emission SUV has been clearly structured. It is operated primarily using touch surfaces and intelligent, intuitive voice control.”

MEB is the Volkswagen Group's modular architecture platform for electric vehicles. The ID.4 will be second vehicle to use the architecture after the compact ID.3.

Volkswagen bills the ID.4 as the "world’s first climate-neutral, compact SUV", able to be charged using renewable energy and produced at Volkswagen's Zwickau plant along a "carbon-neutral value chain".

Australia is a good chance to receive the ID.4 eventually – making it the first electric Volkswagen vehicle to be offered in our market – but it's unlikely to arrive until 2022 at the earliest.

“[The ID.4 Coupe] makes a lot of sense for our market,” a Volkswagen Australian spokesperson has previously told CarAdvice. “From 2022 onwards is when we’ll start introducing ID models.”


Above: The first official press photos of the ID.4, released earlier in 2020.

MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
Susannah Guthrie

Susannah Guthrie has been a journalist for over a decade, covering everything from world news to fashion, entertainment, health and now cars. Having previously worked across titles like The New Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, People Magazine and Cosmopolitan, Susannah now relishes testing family cars with the help of her husband and two-year-old son.

Read more about Susannah GuthrieLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent