China has become the center of the global electric-vehicle race, and what automakers build there increasingly influences what drivers around the world eventually see in showrooms. The country is now the world’s largest EV market by a wide margin, accounting for the majority of global electric-vehicle sales in recent years, according to the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook.
Ironically, some of the most interesting EV ideas are emerging there rather than in the United States. Volkswagen’s new ID. Buzz revived the classic Microbus design, but its roughly 234-mile range, according to the U.S. EPA, has raised concerns among some buyers about long-distance usability.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen is experimenting in China with a different solution: range-extended electric vehicles that drive entirely on electric motors while a small gasoline engine acts only as a generator. The concept has gained momentum, with brands such as Li Auto, and industry coverage notes that the technology is becoming one of the fastest-growing electrified-vehicle categories in China as buyers look for a middle ground between pure EVs and traditional hybrids, according to Bloomberg. One example is Volkswagen’s ID. ERA concept, a large crossover revealed in China that uses this range-extended electric setup, where the gasoline engine never directly powers the wheels.
From Concept to Production: ID. ERA 9X
A few months ago, the production model VW ID. Unyx 08 was introduced based on the design of the ID. Evo concept, and now the ID. ERA concept has also evolved into a large crossover/SUV called the ID. ERA 9X. The manufacturer has released official photos, while basic technical data have also been published in the homologation database of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, commonly referred to as MIIT, which regularly publishes specifications for vehicles approved for sale in the Chinese market.
The production version of the ID. ERA 9X does not differ significantly from the prototype. For example, the vertical blocks of the front headlights received new LED internals, while the rear license plate was moved from the bumper to the tailgate. A different spoiler has been installed, and a lidar unit has appeared on the roof.
Dimensions and Wheel Options
The vehicle’s dimensions are 5,207 mm in length, 1,997 mm in width, and 1,810 mm in height, while the wheelbase measures 3,070 mm. The car is offered with 20- or 21-inch wheels.
The three rows of seats in the cabin have not yet been shown in detail, but it has been confirmed that the interior is designed for six passengers. The new model will also be equipped with modern driver-assistance systems.
Powertrain Lineup and Battery Options
Three versions of the model have been homologated, all using a 1.5-liter turbocharged EA211 engine with 143 horsepower, which serves as a generator. In the rear-wheel-drive version, a single electric motor with 299 horsepower is installed, combined with a lithium iron phosphate battery with a capacity of 51.1 kWh, enabling an electric range of up to 166 miles according to the WLTC testing cycle used in China.
A variant with an NMC battery with a capacity of 65.2 kWh is also available, providing an electric range of up to 211 miles without starting the internal combustion engine. The same battery is used in the all-wheel-drive version, where an additional 218-horsepower electric motor is located on the front axle, while the WLTC range is reduced to 199 miles. The full market debut of the Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X in China is planned for later this year.
This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.