First look at VW ID.4 electric SUV, orders open next month

Volkswagen has teased images of the upcoming ID.4 electric SUV, without camouflage, and will open pre-orders for the ID.4 following a global launch on September 23.

The ID.4 will be the second in Volkswagen’s new ID series, and is being touted by the German car maker as a sleek design “shaped by the wind itself.”

Importantly, it represents Volkswagen’s first foray into the electric crossover/SUV market and, for this reason, it is expected to be the first of the ID series to land in Australia.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed that while a date for pre-orders to open in Australia has not yet been set, a 2022 local launch is expected.

The EV will be made available for pre-order in the US, first, for $US100 ($A138 converted), the car maker said during an online presentation to US journalists on Wednesday.

The images shared on Thursday, while still only in rendered form, are some of the first we’ve seen without camouflage.

With the compact but powerful SUV VW ID.4, which will have 500km range according to the European WLTP standard, Volkswagen could hit the mark with customers.

“The ID.4 represents an electric design evolution,” said the head of design for Volkswagen, Klaus Zyciora in a statement.

“Its exterior design is clean, flowing and powerful. It appears strong and self-confident in a new way. This is mainly due to the seamless, aerodynamic style of our ID. family, which we have transferred to the SUV segment for the first time with the ID.4″

Indeed, the aerodynamic profile of the VW ID.4 is striking. As is the front appearance, defined by the headlights and the signature light running in between them which give the ID.4.

Both elements also feature on the ID.3, shaping a new design language for Volkswagen’s ID electric vehicle series.

“This means that gentle, soft transitions alternate with sharp, clear separating edges. The design looks as if shaped by the wind itself. At the same time, the modern look of the ID.4 can be seen by the characteristic headlights and the signature light between them,” said Zyciora.

The marketing calling card – “shaped by the wind” – comes from the fact that Volkswagen says it has focused on improving the energy efficiency of the SUV by creating a smooth flow of air over the vehicle’s exterior design.

“The electric design evolution of the ID.4 also means that we have focused very strongly on the aerodynamics,” says Zyciora.

This has, Volkswagen says, allowed the ID.4 to achieve an excellent drag coefficient of 0.28. While it’s still a stretch from the Tesla Model Y’s 0.23, it is still a world ahead of the average boxy SUV drag co-efficient of 0.35-0.45.

Inside, Volkswagen emphasises the ID.4’s spacious interior thanks to the compact electric drive.

Volkswagen commenced production of the ID.4 at its now EV-only factory in Zwickau earlier this month. It says it will in the future also build it at the US-based Chattanooga plant as well as in China.

The Volkswagen brand is investing €11 billion ($A17.9 billion) in electric mobility by 2024 under its “Transform 2025+” strategy.

After the ID.3, the VW ID.4 is the second model based on the MEB, a modular electric drivetrain platform.