Volkswagen will present the ID.4 next month, its second electric car based on the new modular MEB platform. Unlike the ID.3, this family SUV will have a global vocation, as it will be manufactured and sold in Europe, China, and the United States.
Before its launch, Klaus Zyciora, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group, wanted to give some clues about the model’s aesthetics: “The ID.4 represents an evolution in electric [car] design. Its exterior design is clear, fluid, and powerful. It looks strong and confident in a new way. This is primarily due to the sleek, streamlined design language of our ID Family, which we have brought into the SUV segment for the first time with the ID.4.”
This means that smooth transitions alternate with crisp, precise cuts. The design seems molded by the wind. Simultaneously, the modernity of the ID.4 is evident in its distinctive headlamps and the light signature that unites them. The design of the ID.4, despite its SUV nature, is eminently functional, with an outstanding Cx of just 0.28, vital to maximizing efficiency and thus autonomy.
“Its exterior design makes clear the beginning of the new era: it combines powerful expression with fluid, organic shapes, and high aerodynamic qualities.” The truth is that the ID.4 is an excellent example of the kind of design that dedicated electric cars tend to: a short hood and forward windshield to maximize interior space, a wide wheelbase, shortened overhangs, a tall body for housing the battery pack in the underbody, a relatively steep roof drop to improve aerodynamics, etc.
According to Duncan Movassaghi, head of sales and marketing for Volkswagen in the United States, the objective of the ID.4 is not to compete against the Tesla Model Y in the same segment. “Tesla certainly inspired us when it comes to customer experience, but we are not targeting their customers.” According to the executive, the main difference will be that the ID.4 will be priced much lower.
“If you drive a [Toyota] RAV4 or [Honda] CR-V, this car will be a great alternative,” says Movassaghi, making it clear who the new ID.4’s real rivals are. The RAV4, which is available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, is the world’s best-selling SUV today, while the CR-V is one of the most popular models in the category in the United States.