VW I.D. Vizzion Due In 2022 With Electric Powertrain, 330-Mile Range | Feature

Volkswagen’s I.D. Vizzion concept is heading to the production line and is meant to act as a spiritual successor to the unloved Phaeton.

Auto Express reports that the carmaker will position the I.D. Vizzion as a rival to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the all-electric Tesla Model S. Like the Californian sedan, the Vizzion will utilize an electric powertrain and come loaded with the latest self-driving technology.

The I.D. Vizzion was presented at the Geneva Motor Show without a steering wheel. However, VW sales and marketing boss Jurgen Stackmann has confirmed that the road-going model will feature traditional driver controls.

“We want to put I.D. Vizzion into a reality, but not with Level 5 autonomous driving, and the timing is planned for around 2022. We did not even think for a second about what [powertrain] system we should put into the flagship model; it’s a flagship for the next generation.”

Underpinning the vehicle will be the VW Group’s MEB platform. As such, the manufacturer will be able to offer the I.D. Vizzion in a number of guises with different powertrain configurations, including one with an electric motor on each axle, thus making it all-wheel drive.

It remains to be seen how large the vehicle’s battery pack will be, but it will almost certainly be larger than the one found in the I.D. hatchback and should offer a range of roughly 600 km (330 miles).

“Luxury will get a new definition in the EV space. I think EVs provide a lot of opportunities to position luxury in a new field because the platform provides a new dimension of space in the interior, and space is perceived as a luxury by many people,” Stackmann said about VW’s new flagship.