The VW I.D. Crozz is an autonomous, all-electric SUV

The future has arrived, at least according to VW design boss Klaus Bischoff. “If it was ever possible to make a 100 per cent certain prediction of what the future will look like, it is achieved here,” he says, of the I.D. Crozz Concept, a fully-electric, fully-autonomous 'crossover utility vehicle' that makes its debut at this week’s Shanghai motor show. 

Like the other two I.D. concepts (the hot hatch I.D. and cute campervan I.D. Buzz), it’s based on the new scalable MEB electric car platform VW will share with Audi, Seat, Skoda and so on. It’s a kind-of skateboard that contains the motors and batteries, freeing up passenger space and theoretically enabling VW to stick basically any body they like on top of it. In this case, a BMW X6-like SUV coupe. 

VW says the Crozz is a “concrete example of what might be seen in 2020”, when production of the I.D. range begins. A million pure-electric sales a year and full autonomy (for which MEB cars are equipped) by 2025 is the target. 

Power comes from two electric motors, with one on each axle for all-wheel drive. A combined 302bhp means a 112mph top speed.

Range is a claimed 311 miles, with a 150kW fast-charger delivering an 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. And, with the battery, motors and gearboxes lying flat under the floor, cabin space on offer is about that of the Tiguan Allspace SUV, even though the Crozz is smaller and less upright. 

Inside, there’s an augmented-reality HUD, no buttons whatsoever and a steering wheel that motors backwards into the dash when you select the fully-autonomous I.D. Pilot mode. LED lights all-around let other drivers and pedestrians know what mode the Crozz is in. 

Like it? If this is 100 per cent what the future looks like, are you excited?