Volkswagen’s snubbing us. Once more. The German model has a brand new mannequin in its full electrical collection: the ID.UNYX. Trendy and swanky, this coupe-like compact crossover won’t ever make it right here. VW gave us photos and particulars of its scorching new crossover, however in the identical breath stated it was just for China.
The ID.UNYX is a part of Volkswagen’s “In China, For China” technique. This new outlook is how Volkswagen desires to win China again within the face of slumping gross sales in China, by creating fashions which might be developed explicitly for China.
Volkswagen Gross sales Down In China
Volkswagen China’s gross sales have been on the downtrend for some time. Its EVs have not resonated as strongly because the model has hoped, whereas gross sales of its gas-powered automobiles proceed to sink. Volkswagen gross sales had been down 20% for June 2024.
The ID.UNYX itself is a slick-looking automobile. With its racy coupe-like silhouette, it could be essentially the most convincing and fascinating automobile based mostly on the Volkswagen MEB platform but, save for the retro-styled ID.BUZZ van. Whereas the ID.4 is doughy and bland, the ID.UNYX is sporty and placing. Some Europeans could acknowledge the ID.UNYX as a Cupra Tavascan with a brand new nostril and tail. Nevertheless it appears just like the ID.UNYX has had a number of adjustments in its transition to a Volkswagen product.
Volkswagen
The ID.UNYX’s inside is much less on the market than the Tavascan. The almost wrap-around metallic accents and skinny middle stack of the Tavascan have been changed by a extra conventional setup not dissimilar to what we’ve already seen within the Volkswagen ID automobiles.
Mechanically, the ID.UNYX’s motor and battery choices are considerably restricted. Volkswagen says the automobile will solely include a 77 kWh (internet) battery, in both single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD. The RWD mannequin will probably be good for 286 horsepower and the AWD one makes 340 hp. Volkswagen says it’ll obtain as much as 386 miles (621 kilometers) of vary on China’s notoriously simple CLTC vary cycle.
Volkswagen claims that the ID.UNYX is the primary product developed by VW Anhui, a more moderen three way partnership with Chinese language producer JAC. That is completely different than the opposite two joint ventures Volkswagen has with SAIC and FAW. Regardless, VW Anhui took the lead on the model’s new Good E-Mobility Hub, the place it is growing bespoke tech options that ought to assist Volkswagen shake the repute that its present fashions aren’t all that nice with tech. For instance, the ID.UNYX has an AI-based, 3D avatar that the consumer can customise in an app. The avatar will then sync with the car’s infotainment system and even converse in a human voice. Volkswagen says it could even “ accompany the motive force for conversations,” which means that it’ll transcend the everyday automobile voice instructions frequent on different automobiles. In case you had been trying to actually have a dialog along with your automobile, Volkswagen could have the answer.
Volkswagen
The ID.UNYX is now technically a sub-brand of Volkswagen, too. It’ll have its personal higher-end retail shops separate from the SAIC-VW, FAW-VW, or ID.Retailer retail areas all through China. Volkswagen plans to open 40 shops in 20 completely different Chinese language cities showcasing the ID.UNYX’s new applied sciences. It additionally plans to launch 4 new ID.UNYX fashions by 2026.
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Volkswagen
Even with the freaky AI companion, the ID.UNYX appears good. It’s a disgrace that Volkswagen is not taking as many dangers with its U.S. EV lineup, although. The ID.UNYX appears way more compelling than any VW at present on sale right here. I’d certainly give it a glance.
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