VW CEO Spills the Beans on the Mysterious Volkswagen ID.8
In Europe, Volkswagen just announced a killer sporty wagon, the 2022 Golf R Estate. Meanwhile, here in the states, when VW announces a new car, the real ones know that it will inevitably be a boring crossover. So, when Volkswagen (sort of) announced the new Volkswagen ID.8, it came as no surprise that it was, yet again, another midsize SUV. At least it’s electric?
Volkswagen’s CEO let the boring cat out of the boring bag
El Hefe at VW, Herbert Diess, recently headlined an event announcing the group’s new global strategy, dubbed (the very German) “New Auto.” Even though Diess had notes to help him navigate the conference, he seems to have spoken prematurely about the newest in the ID line, the Volkswagen ID.8. Although he didn’t reference anything specific or even its name, the clues point to another in a long line of future electric crossovers.
VW gave Americans the midsize crossover we deserve, the Volkswagen ID.8
To the surprise of literally no one, the Volkswagen Atlas is one of the most popular offerings from VW in America. So, as penance for our poor automotive taste, Volkswagen is rewarding us with the surprise of what might be the VW ID.8, another midsize electric crossover.
As noted by Autoblog, if this new electric crossover is anything like the VW ID.4 being based on the VW Tiguan, the ID.8 will most likely be an electric version of the Volkswagen Atlas. It will most likely be a roomy, comfortable, three-row crossover with a battery pack.
This isn’t a bad thing or anything like that; it’s just not the most exciting move VW could do to create buzz for the EV segment. This lack-luster surprise will likely be massively popular, seeing as how Americans have a seemingly insatiable appetite for large SUV-ish things with more seats than sense.
What do we know about the Volkswagen ID.8?
Literally nothing other than the fact that “this vehicle is not for sale yet,” as noted by Diess at the conference. However, we can make some decent assumptions based on what we already know about the ID family. So far, the other ID cars that we know about are built on the MEB platform. Also, the Chattanooga, TN plant is already slated to be the hub for making the ID.4. It isn’t a stretch to think that this is likely where VW might build the ID.8, too.
Although the references to the potential Volkswagen ID.8 were vague and shrouded, Diess did mention some other models by name. The ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, China-only ID.6, and ID.Buzz all got a bit of air time despite their various states of existence. Some of these electric Volkswagen models are currently being built, while others are slated for some future date.
Does VW make an electric car?
At this conference, Diess mentioned that Volkswagen intends to become the “global market leader in electric vehicles” by 2025. According to AutoBlog, in efforts to pursue that goal, VW engineers are working on a single electric platform called the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) to supplant the MEB and PPE structures currently in use.
To really drive the point home, while we may be getting another people carrier, the VW CEO did mention two models called the ID.Vizzion sedan and ID.Space Vizzion wagon. These rad-sounding electric cars will be Volkswagen Passat-sized, and one of them will be a shooting brake! Of course, these will be built and sold in Europe.
Maybe if Americans start buying cooler cars and prove we like cool stuff, something will change. However, we are destined to have little else other than big, boring people carriers for now.
