Volkswagen unveils masked prototype ID. Era for the first time
CEO of Volkswagen Group China, Ralf Brandstätter, published on LinkedIn the first official photo of the masked prototype model ID. Era. According to the terminology adopted in China, the novelty is classified as an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), where the gasoline engine acts as a generator, and the electric motor is responsible for driving the wheels.
What's known
ID. Era is a joint development of Volkswagen and China's SAIC. The photo shows a two-tier front lighting system and a thin LED strip across the full width of the front. The integration of a lidar on the upper part of the windshield indicates that the model will be equipped with advanced driver assistance systems.
It is noteworthy that Volkswagen retained retractable door handles despite new Chinese safety requirements. Wide wheel arches, roof rails, and multi-element wheels indicate that the production model will largely retain the design of the early concept.
The interior features and technical data are not yet disclosed. However, it can be assumed that the model is built on SAIC's EREV platform. Comparable models, such as the IM LS6, use an 800-volt architecture combined with a 66 kWh battery and dual electric motors with a total power of up to 500 kW. Whether the ID. Era will receive a similar configuration will be known later.
Preliminary information suggests that production of the VW ID. Era could begin in April 2026.
Source: Carnewschina
