Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion EV gets green light

The Volkswagen ID. Space Vizzion will transition from concept car fantasy to production car reality, with Volkswagen brand chief Ralf Brandstaetter confirming the sporty pure-electric wagon is heading for production in 2023.

Breaking the news on social media, Brandstaetter, who is VW’s former chief operating officer now tasked with driving the brand towards its zero-emission mobility goals, said the production model will keep its sleek aerodynamic shape and will have a range of at least 700km.

Set to be based on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform, the ID. Space Vizzion was originally unveiled at the 2019 LA motor show and was claimed to be heavily based on the earlier ID. Vizzion sedan that was revealed back in 2018.

As well as its headline range, the ID. Space Vizzion concept comes equipped with an 82kWh lithium-ion battery pack and twin electric motors that produce 250kW and 700Nm of torque.

This is enough, Volkswagen claims, to launch the battery-powered wagon to 100km/h in less than five seconds, although top speed is limited to 175km/h.

Measuring in at 4958mm long, 1897mm wide and standing 1529mm, the ID. Space Vizzion is both longer and taller, but narrower, than the current Volkswagen Passat wagon.

With the vehicle boasting a claimed drag coefficient of just 0.24Cd, engineers at the LA show said that the slippery mid-size wagon cuts through air more efficiently than the latest Porsche Taycan.

Special air-bending, range-boosting aids include low-drag 22-inch wheels, a functional rear diffuser and tailgate spoiler, and what VW describes as ‘digital’ door handles.

Inside, the futuristic feel continues in the concept with a huge 15.6-inch floating infotainment screen and an augmented reality head-up instrument panel.

Even the seat material is pure sci-fi, with VW claiming it was made from a new advanced plant-based cloth derived from a by-product of apple juice production.

Mounting the batteries low in the architecture, meanwhile, means the Space Vizzion comes with a decent 586-litre boot – although that's still some way off the 650-litre luggage space offered by the Passat.

Following on from the Volkswagen ID.3 hatch and ID.4 SUV, the production version of the ID. Space Vizzion is expected to stay close to the concept, styling-wise at least.