The Breakdown
- The ID. Era 9X is a six-seater SUV with a 1.5-liter engine working as a generator.
- It has a 65.2-kWh battery good for 249 miles.
- It's the first VW to adopt a new design language.
The missing piece of Volkswagen’s electrification puzzle is now in place, as the company is introducing its first EV with a range-extending gasoline engine. The ID. Era 9X hails from China via the local VW-SAIC joint venture and serves as a production-ready version of last year’s ID. Era concept.
Exuding a touch of Range Rover flair, the full-size SUV with six seats ushers in a new design language created specifically for VW models sold in China. A look at the technical specifications reveals it’s among the largest vehicles ever launched by the brand. Measuring 205 inches (5,207 mm) long, it eclipses the second-generation Atlas introduced last year in China as the Teramont Pro.
The ID. Era 9X is 78.6 inches (1,997 mm) wide, 71.2 inches (1,810 mm) tall, and rides on a massive 120.8-inch (3,070-mm) wheelbase. It’s longer than most VW Group large SUVs, except for the long-wheelbase Bentley Bentayga. Additionally, the upcoming Audi Q9 could top it. Filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveal it’s predictably a porker, with the heaviest version tipping the scales at 5,952 pounds (2,700 kilograms).
But the vehicle’s real highlight isn’t its imposing size; it’s the powertrain. VW fits a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine that acts solely as a generator to charge the battery. The four-cylinder unit belongs to the EA211 family and runs on the Miller cycle, featuring variable-geometry turbocharger technology derived from Porsche.
The combustion engine produces 141 hp and works in tandem with either one or two electric motors. The base model uses a single rear-mounted motor delivering 295 hp. Opting for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup boosts total output to 510 hp. The single-motor variant comes with a 51.1-kWh battery, while buyers can upgrade to a larger 65.2-kWh pack. Choosing the dual-motor configuration brings the bigger battery as standard.
VW claims the upgraded battery delivers more than 249 miles (400 kilometers) of range on the forgiving CLTC cycle. While the total driving range hasn’t been disclosed, it’s likely to exceed 600 miles (965 kilometers), depending on the gas tank’s capacity.
Volkswagen ID. Era 9X
Although the ID. Era 9X is unlikely to be sold outside China, Bloomberg recently reported that VW is considering launching range-extending EVs in Europe and the United States.
At the same time, the new Scout sub-brand will debut with the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV, both using a naturally aspirated gasoline engine as a generator. With the Harvester option, these body-on-frame models are estimated to offer a total range of 500 miles (805 kilometers), including 150 miles (241 kilometers) of electric-only driving.
Motor1's Take: It makes sense for VW to explore range-extending EVs, as the technology is gaining traction in China, where the company has a strong presence through its joint ventures. Having a gas engine to top off the battery should help ease range anxiety and convince more buyers to switch from pure combustion-engine vehicles.
Hopefully, the technology will catch on in other markets as well. Range extenders make sense because a pure EV would require a much larger battery to deliver a comparable driving range, further increasing weight.
Beyond Scout, reports suggest BMW is considering bringing back range extenders after using the setup in the last decade on the i3. As with VW, the Bavarians are considering equipping their largest SUVs with a gas engine that would serve solely as a generator, with no mechanical connection to the wheels.
