What's all this about?
The Volkswagen Group is girding its loins for a full-on assault on the electric vehicle (EV) marketplace. We've already seen - and had a drive in - the Skoda Vision E SUV-coupe. Well, here's the Volkswagen version, called the ID Crozz II. And yes, that's 'II'; the ID Crozz was first revealed in Shanghai earlier this year. The Crozz II is making its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.
So what's changed?
OK. On the outside, the ID Crozz II has both front- and rear-end design that's more like what you'd see on a production car. It has also changed colour, from silver to Hibiscus Red metallic. The LED headlights are still supposed to look like eyes, there's an illuminated strip running between them, the 'VW' nose badge lights up and there are body-coloured cross-fins in the bumpers.
How about within?
Advanced voice control has been added, which means the driver can simply use their voice to make the ID Crozz II open the doors, or the lid to the 515-litre boot, or engage the autopilot. Light strips around the cabin are said to be 'intelligent and interactive', as they respond to various voice command controls to show what's happening (if a door's opening, for instance, the strip on that door glows) or - in the case of the one in front of the driver - it'll change colours according to satnav info, hazards ahead and so on. There's also two-colour ambient lighting: if the human being behind the wheel is driving, the lights are blue; if the machine has the power, they turn red. For evil, presumably...
Has the drivetrain changed for the ID Crozz II?
No, and not only is it the same as the ID Crozz of Shanghai, it's also the same as the Skoda Vision E's. So, twin electric motors on both axles, providing four-wheel drive without any physical link between said axles, and a maximum 306hp and a 112mph top speed. The ID Crozz II can go 312 miles on a single charge of its 83kWh lithium-ion battery pack and that can be juiced up to 80 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes.
Anything else?
Well, slightly more realistic for the moment than electric SUVs with eyes, the R-Line version of the handsome
T-Roc crossover will also be on the stand at the Frankfurt event.
Matt Robinson - 11 Sep 2017