Volkswagen is going all in on electric drive — so much so that its electric models are starting to outnumber the ones that still sip on dead dinosaurs. They have not quite overtaken them yet, but at this rate, it feels like it’s only a matter of time. Beyond the already available ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, ID.7 Tourer, and ID.Buzz, there’s the upcoming ID.2, the ID.EVERY1, and the concept ID.AERO. And if you think that’s plenty, think again. The German automaker just pulled the covers off three more electric concepts — the ID. AURA, ID. ERA, and ID. EVO — at Auto Shanghai.
It seems Volkswagen has decided that the only thing better than one shiny EV is three shiny EVs, each tailored to charm a different slice of China’s massive market. Meet the ID. AURA, a sleek electric notchback rocking Volkswagen’s new Compact Main Platform. It brings an AI-powered driving assistant, a UI/UX experience that feels more smartphone than car, and a dynamic design aimed at the budget-conscious without screaming “budget.”
Then there’s the ID. ERA, a full-size SUV with three rows of seats and, just to make sure your range anxiety takes a permanent vacation, a range extender. Battery mode covers around 300 kilometers (186 miles), and if you call in the petrol-powered generator, you are looking at over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) of total range. Road trip warriors, rejoice.
Finally, the ID. EVO struts in with an 800-volt platform and a high-performance zonal electronic architecture. It is Volkswagen’s idea of a full-size SUV for the lifestyle-loving crowd, complete with fast-charging and constant OTA updates to keep the tech feeling fresh long after the showroom smell fades.
Other highlights include AI-assisted Level 2++ driving capabilities, where your car can handle overtaking and merging with minimal human input, and designs refined from last year’s ID. CODE concept to better fit Chinese tastes.
Images: Volkswagen.
