Electric Volkswagen Aero B locked in

Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess has provided the first good look at the German car-maker's upcoming all-electric 2023 Volkswagen Aero B sedan and confirmed it will go on sale in Europe next year.
 
During VW's Annual Media Conference 2022, Diess referred to the battery-electric sedan that has been developed under the Aero B codename as an "electric alternative to a Passat".
 
Showing off the clearest picture yet of the Aero B's face, the latest glimpse follows a similar teaser during yet another press conference held last year.

 
Looking clearly inspired by the Volkswagen ID. Vizzion concept, the Aero B is expected to be launched first as a sedan but then be offered later as a shooting brake wagon that was previewed by the 2019 Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion.
 
Despite sharing a Passat-sized footprint, efficient packaging for the EV should ensure cabin space is more akin to the large car class rather than the medium category.
 
Beneath the skin, the Aero B, which is also set to take on an ID nameplate, will be underpinned by a full-size version of the Volkswagen Group's MEB architecture.

 
Both a rear- and all-wheel drive version will be available, with the latter possible thanks to dual electric motors.
 
Once launched, a fast GTX version will be introduced that will be capable of a brisk 0-100km/h sprint of 5.6 seconds.
 
Thanks to advanced aerodynamics, models with the biggest 84kWh battery should be capable of covering almost 700km between recharges.

 
Other advances over current VW ID models include the introduction of bi-directional charging and the increase of peak charging power from 150kW (on the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX) to around 200kW.
 
There's still no official confirmation of when Volkswagen will pull the drapes off its Aero B, nor when in 2023 it will launch.

But the pure-electric sedan is hotly tipped to be unwrapped next month at the Beijing auto show (April 21-30).