- The ID. ERA 9X marks Volkswagen's shift toward a technology it once deemed outdated, in response to Chinese consumer preferences.
- The large SUV features an 800-volt architecture and a 65.2-kWh battery, delivering a pure electric range of over 400 kilometers.
Volkswagen has started pre-sales of the ID. ERA 9X, an extended-range SUV that marks a major shift in the German automaker's strategy in the Chinese market.
The company's Chinese joint venture, SAIC-Volkswagen, announced the start of pre-sales for the ID. ERA 9X at an event on Monday. The model is Volkswagen's first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).
The ID. ERA 9X is offered in three variants during pre-sales: Pro, Max, and Ultra, with starting prices of 329,800 yuan ($47,720), 359,800 yuan, and 379,800 yuan, respectively.
The model will officially launch during the Beijing Auto Show in a month, at which time the final prices are expected to be lower.
The most striking feature of this large SUV is its EREV system. Volkswagen had previously publicly criticized this fuel-reliant power generation technology as outdated and environmentally unfriendly.
However, faced with the strong sales performance of local rivals like Li Auto, Volkswagen has chosen to embrace this technological path.
The new vehicle is equipped with a specially developed EA211 1.5T turbocharged range extender, the first unit of which officially rolled off the production line on March 3.
The large six-seat SUV measures 5,207 mm in length, 1,997 mm in width, and 1,810 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,070 mm. These dimensions make the ID. ERA 9X the largest model globally under the Volkswagen brand, catering to Chinese consumers' preference for large spaces.
The ID. ERA 9X is fitted with a 65.2-kWh large-capacity battery pack supplied by CATL, providing a CLTC pure electric range of up to 406 kilometers.
Combined with the fuel-based power generation system, the model's comprehensive range exceeds 1,600 kilometers, targeting Chinese family consumers who have range anxiety.
Built on an 800-volt high-voltage silicon carbide platform, the vehicle supports fast charging, taking only 16.5 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80 percent.
The new car adopts a front and rear dual-motor four-wheel-drive layout, with a maximum output power of 380 kW and a peak torque of 660 Nm.
This power output enables the massive vehicle to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.6 seconds.
Its chassis system integrates an active rear-wheel steering function, resulting in a turning radius of just 4.85 meters. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a dual-chamber air suspension system featuring 150 millimeters of adjustment travel.
The model is equipped with an advanced smart driving assistance system jointly developed by SAIC-Volkswagen and Chinese local startup Momenta. The interior features a 15.6-inch dual-screen setup and a 21.4-inch foldable rear screen.
The ID. ERA 9X will officially launch on April 25, the second day of the Beijing Auto Show which will run through May 3.
($1 = 6.9106 yuan)
