Skip to main content

Volkswagen’s electric I.D. Crozz will go into production in 2019

The Volkswagen I.D. line will go into production in 2019

volkswagen crozz
Ronan Glon/Digital Trends
Ronan Glon/Digital Trends

Volkswagen is planning to launch a range of electric cars beginning around 2020, and it’s previewing that brave new electric world with a series of concept vehicles. First came the Volkswagen I.D. hatchback concept, then the I.D. Buzz, a tribute to the classic VW Microbus. Volkswagen expanded the family with a swoopy crossover earlier this year (the Crozz), and the concept made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Now, we’ve learned that Volkswagen’s I.D. line will be entering production in November 2019.

Now, we’ve learned that Volkswagen’s I.D. line will be entering production in November 2019.

First shown in April at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show, and updated for the Frankfurt show in September, the Volkswagen I.D. Crozz is an electric crossover that will satisfy the seemingly insatiable demand for these vehicles when it goes on sale. It’s not just a design study: the Wolfsburg, Germany-based brand has announced that we’ll see the production model on American roads in 2020. That announcement has been bolstered by recent reports noting that VW will begin producing the Crozz in the U.S. in just about 18 months. The goal is for the company to hit one million annual EV sales by 2025.

Like the other I.D. concepts, the oddly named Crozz is based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform for compact electric cars. VW says the styling makes this latest concept an SUV and a “four-door coupe” in one. That means the Crozz gets a sloping roofline that buyers will likely equate with sportiness, but that really just ruins practicality and makes the vehicle look like it’s been squashed by a heavy object landing on its roof. Nevertheless, the look is increasingly popular, as evidenced by the numerous brands adopting it.

Despite the squashed roof and compact proportions, Volkswagen says the Crozz has the same interior space as the 2018 Tiguan crossover. That’s owing to the MEB platform’s relatively long wheelbase, and the packaging efficiencies of an electric powertrain. With a battery pack under the floor and no bulky internal-combustion powertrain, designers have more flexibility.

The Crozz is powered by two electric motors, one for each axle. They produce a combined 302 horsepower, getting the little crossover up to a top speed of 112 mph. An 83-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack provides a claimed 311 miles of range on the European testing cycle, which is a bit more optimistic than the U.S. EPA cycle. The Crozz is equipped for DC fast charging, allowing it to charge to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. Volkswagen promises the production model will match — or improve upon — these specifications.

The Crozz is equipped for DC fast charging, allowing it to charge to 80 percent in around 30 minutes.

The Crozz also features a fully autonomous driving mode called “I.D. Pilot,” which is activated by pressing the Volkswagen logo on the steering wheel. In this mode, the exterior lighting changes to indicate the car is in autonomous mode, and occupants can take full advantage of the tech-filled cabin, which includes a 10.2-inch tablet-style display on the instrument panel. When the Crozz is parked, delivery services can drop off packages in its trunk.

Volkswagen plans to start production of its I.D. family of electric cars in 2020. The lineup will also include the I.D. hatchback, which will replace the e-Golf when it kicks off the offensive, and the retro-inspired I.D. Buzz, which will arrive in 2022. VW will begin production of the I.D. hatchback in November as well, but not in the U.S. The I.D. Buzz all-electric microbus should also be going into production soon given that it’s slated for delivery in 2022.

We should be hearing more about Volkswagen’s plans at the Geneva Motor Show in a few weeks, and will update you with any additional information we glean.

Update: Volkswagen will start production of the Crozz in the U.S. and the I.D. hatchback internationally beginning in November 2019. 

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Volkswagen aims for value with its updated 2020 Passat sedan
2020 volkswagen passat gets new design and engine tweaks pricing

The sedan segment is shrinking annually in the United States, but Volkswagen still firmly believes in it. The German firm traveled to the 2019 Detroit Auto Show to demonstrate its commitment to the segment by unveiling the redesigned 2020 Passat. Eleven months later, VW announced that the 2020 Passat will start at $23,915, and will hit showrooms before the end of the year.

Previewed in late 2018 by teaser sketches, the 2020 Passat boasts a bolder front end characterized by a five-slat grille that stretches into a pair of angular headlights. Designers added more rake to the roof line to give the model a sportier appearance; it's also proof that the aesthetic updates go far beyond a simple nip-and-tuck. Walk around the back and you'll notice sharper-looking lights. The 2020 Passat isn't a brand-new model -- it's still based on the platform that has underpinned the current model since 2011 -- but Volkswagen noted that every body panel with the exception of the roof is new.

Read more
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
NASA's new crew transportation electric vehicles.

Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson

NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read more
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Lotus Eletre

Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.

From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30

Read more