Volkswagen ID Aero – Look to the Future

Sedans, or rather all cars that do not fall into the category of hatchback, SUV, crossover or station wagon, are apparently doomed in Europe. This also applies to the models in the so-called D-segment, the large middle class cars that have lasted a long time as a classic sedan. Judging by current trends, the conventional sedan will soon only be found in the premium corner. Regular middle class, as far as they survive, are moving towards crossover. See for example the Citroën C5-X, a slightly higher model with a hatchback. For the electric car, however, the sedan shape – or a variation on that theme – has great advantages, because such a literally protruding butt entails better aerodynamics. Therefore, the tide could turn. Tesla has already shown with the Model 3 that the sedan can still be popular under the right conditions and Mercedes – admittedly, plenty of premium – is proudly embracing the streamline theme based on a sedan with the EQS and EQE.

Volkswagen ID Vizzion (2018)

Volkswagen has similar plans, but at a much lower level. In 2018, before the introduction of the ID3, the brand presented the ID Vizzion. That was a sleek four-door of the kind automakers like to call a four-door coupe. In the best concept car tradition, the ID Vizzion got huge wheels, rear-opening doors and a B-pillarless body, but the tone was set. Volkswagen thought – and thinks – of an electric car with a butt. Recently, spy images of such a model even surfaced, which we suspect will be an electric alternative to the (new) Passat. These spy images underline that the model is not long in coming, but the images also show that the original ID Vizzion design has been heavily tinkered with. The wheel arches are smaller and the doors open in the conventional way. The car as a whole is higher and also has a significantly higher and therefore more traditional nose. It is longer than with the concept car, while the rear is shorter. That in fact already reveals what the main difference is with the current Passat: the newcomer is a liftback. The tailgate therefore hinges above the rear window instead of below it, just like the Arteon placed above the Passat. This creates a car that is much more practical than a real sedan, but has its aerodynamic advantages.

Volkswagen ID Aero (illustration: Larson)

‘Aero’

That aerodynamic aspect is essential for this new Volkswagen, because the name ‘ID Aero’ has been buzzing in the corridors since 2018. That seems strange in a line of models that until now has been filled in with figures, but it can nevertheless be explained. We already know that the ID.5 will be a flattened variant of the ID.4, while a seven-seater is already driving around in China with the name ID6. The name ‘ID7’ seems a bit inappropriate for a model that is undeniably smaller than the ID6, although nothing is certain yet. ‘ID Aero’ would also underline that Volkswagen really wants to create something special with this model, a kind of electric flagship for those who are mainly interested in making optimal use of the technology. That should work, because the ID Aero combines the rear-wheel drive and the relatively high power of the existing ID models with a lower center of gravity and ditto seating position. Moreover, an impressive range is within reach. An ID3 comes with a 77 kWh battery already 553 km according to the WLTP cycle. With a lower body and probably also a larger battery pack, the ‘ID Aero’ should still be quite similar, with a driving range of more than 600 or maybe even 700 km. That also fits perfectly with the intended target group of the model, which, as a Passat alternative, should of course appeal to many mile-eaters.

Variant

In 2019, Volkswagen presented the ID Space Vizzion as a follow-up to the ID Vizzion. Although the brand attributes some crossover properties to this car, it seems to be mainly a station wagon based on the ID Vizzion. So count on the fact that a ‘Variant’ will also appear on ID Aero basis, whether or not with the extra ground clearance and black wheel arch extensions that suddenly make such a model globally interesting. Volkswagen promises a luggage space of 586 liters. That is somewhat less than with a Passat Variant (650 litres), but we are used to that from the rear-wheel drive MEB models.