Volkswagen unveils new ID. Era 9X EREV in China

Volkswagen is fighting hard to keep its place at the top of the car world, especially in China. The German giant just released details about its new vehicle called the ID. Era 9X, meant to challenge local favorites like the Aito M8 from Huawei. It is big, heavy, and packed with technology.

The ID. Era 9X is an Extended Range Electric Vehicle, or EREV. The idea is quite simple - the car has a gas engine, but that engine does not turn the wheels. Instead, the engine acts like a portable power plant. It burns gas to charge the battery or send power to the electric motors. The electric motors are the only things moving the car down the road.

Size is a big deal for this new Volkswagen. It measures just over 17.1 ft long, it stands 5.94 ft tall and is nearly 7 ft wide. That makes it longer and a bit taller than a BMW iX. Its 10.07 ft wheelbase means plenty of room for people inside. The car rides on giant 20-inch or optional 21-inch wheels.

Inside, the car is built for families. It has three rows of seats and can carry six people. The design looks very modern, matching the concept car shown at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2025. The front has thin LED lights and no big grille because the engine does not need as much air, though there is an active intake that opens up when it needs to cool down.

The ID. Era 9X uses a 1.5-liter turbo engine made by SAIC as its generator. This engine makes 141 horsepower (105 kW), but that power is only used to charge the battery. Buyers can choose from three different versions of the car.

The base model has one electric motor in the back that delivers 295 horsepower (220 kW). This version gets a 51.1 kWh battery that’s good enough for 166 miles of range. When the battery runs out, the gas engine kicks in to keep you going. This heavy car weighs 5,732 lb, but even with a dead battery, it burns only about 5.95 liters of gasoline for every 62 miles.

Drivers who want more range can pick the middle option. It uses the same rear motor but swaps the battery for a bigger 65.2 kWh pack. This battery uses a different chemical mix (ternary NMC) and boosts the electric-only driving range to 211 miles. That is a very impressive number for a hybrid. The weight goes up slightly to 5,776 lb, but the gas mileage stays the same as the base model.

For those who want speed and power, the top version adds a second motor. This creates an all-wheel-drive system with a total of 510 horsepower (380 kW). The extra motor adds 215 horsepower (160 kW) to the mix. This beast is heavy, tipping the scales at 5,952 lb. Because it is heavier and more powerful, the electric range drops a little to 199 miles, and it burns more gas - about 6.27 liters per 62 miles. All versions top out at a speed of 124 mph.

Via