WOLFSBURG: Volkwagen is touting how aerodynamic the ID.4 SUV is in the run-up to its launch.
This is the second all-electric vehicle from Volkswagen after ID.3. As part of its “Transform 2025+” strategy, the Volkswagen brand would invest €11 billion in electric mobility by 2024.
Minimising drag is a key factor in an electric car range. The ID.4 gets high marks for a drag coefficient of 0.28.
“The electric design evolution of the ID.4 means that we have focused very strongly on the aerodynamics,” explains Head of Volkswagen Design Klaus Zyciora.
The most important factor for this is the flowing basic shape of the vehicle body and passenger compartment, which is significantly drawn in towards the rear. This is complemented by many precisely executed details. For instance, the bodies of the tail light clusters together with the large roof spoiler ensure that the air flow is cleanly separated.
The new SUV would initially be launched with rear-wheel drive, and an electric all-wheel drive variant will follow at a later stage.
The high-voltage battery is positioned in the sandwich-design underbody to create an optimum low centre of gravity for driving dynamics as well as balanced axle load distribution.
The ID.4 and ID.3 are based on a new modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform that offers a spacious interior as a result of the compact design of the electric drive. Thanks to the low drag coefficient and scalable battery system, ranges of more than 500km are possible with the ID.4.
The ID.3 already gave a good account of the MEB potential when it recently set its first range record, covering 531km from Zwickau, Germany to Schaffhausen, Switzerland on a single charge.
Officially, the model has a range of up to 420km (WLTP). This mark was topped by more than 100km – an increase of 26 percent. The vehicle was a series production ID.3 1st Pro Performance with a 58 kWh battery built at the Zwickau electric car factory.
The route to Switzerland consisted entirely of public roads and highways, passing cities such as Bayreuth and Ulm. The record-breaking vehicle was driven by Swiss “hypermiler” Felix Egolf.
