Volkswagen has opened pre-sales for its new ID. UNYX 09 electric fastback in China, with prices starting at 199,900 yuan ($29,620). Developed with Xpeng, the new Volkswagen EV offers up to 370 kW of power, a 91.963 kWh CATL LFP battery and up to 755 km of CLTC range.
Built by Volkswagen Anhui, the ID. UNYX 09 is the second production model resulting from Volkswagen’s partnership with Xpeng and combines Volkswagen design with Chinese-developed EV hardware and software. The new electric sedan also features Xpeng’s 750-TOPS Turing AI chip, advanced navigation assistance and an unusual 85-inch augmented-reality head-up display.
The new electric sedan is positioned by Volkswagen as a smart electric sports sedan and GT coupé. Despite its B-segment positioning, the ID. UNYX 09 is considerably larger than many conventional cars in the class, measuring more than five meters long.
Volkswagen ID. UNYX 09 Price and Versions
Pre-sales begin at 199,900 yuan for the rear-wheel-drive version. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive model is priced at 249,900 yuan.
That makes the ID. UNYX 09 cheaper at launch than the original Volkswagen ID. UNYX 08, the electric SUV that became the first production model developed through the Volkswagen-Xpeng partnership.
The ID. UNYX 08 originally started at 229,900 yuan, although an updated version has recently been offered from 189,900 yuan for a limited period.
Volkswagen has not announced plans to sell the ID. UNYX 09 in Europe. Like Volkswagen’s other ID. UNYX models developed specifically for China, the sedan is currently intended for the Chinese market.
Up to 370 kW of Power and 755 km of Range
The Volkswagen ID. UNYX 09 measures 5,081 mm long, 1,980 mm wide and 1,509 mm tall, with a 3,030 mm wheelbase.
Two powertrain configurations are available.
The rear-wheel-drive version uses a single 230 kW (308 hp) electric motor mounted at the rear. The all-wheel-drive model adds a 140 kW front motor to the same 230 kW rear motor, producing a combined 370 kW.
Both versions use a 91.963 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by CATL.
According to China’s CLTC testing cycle, the rear-wheel-drive model can travel up to 755 km on a full charge, while the all-wheel-drive version is rated at 705 km.
For comparison with European figures, those numbers translate to approximately 612 km and 571 km under the WLTP cycle, respectively.
The combination of a large battery, rear-wheel drive and relatively high output gives the ID. UNYX 09 a specification aimed at buyers looking for both long-distance range and performance.
Xpeng Technology Under the Volkswagen Badge
The ID. UNYX 09 is closely linked to Xpeng’s technology. Rather than using Volkswagen’s newer China Electronic Architecture (CEA), the electric sedan utilizes technology developed by its Chinese partner and is considered technically related to the Xpeng P7.
Volkswagen previously adopted Xpeng’s vehicle technology for the ID. UNYX 08, which is based on technology derived from the Xpeng G9 platform.
The partnership gives Volkswagen access to software and electronic systems developed specifically for China’s rapidly evolving EV market.
One of the most important technologies in the ID. UNYX 09 is Xpeng’s Turing AI-assisted driving chip, which provides 750 TOPS of computing power.
The vehicle is equipped with: 11 cameras, 3 millimeter-wave radars and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
The system supports highway and urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA), along with AI-assisted parking functions.
Depending on the configuration and market software, parking assistance includes parking after the driver exits the vehicle, remote-controlled parking and reversing along a previously driven route.
The ID. UNYX 08 uses two Turing chips with a combined 1,500 TOPS of computing power and Xpeng’s VLA 2.0 driver-assistance system.
85-Inch Augmented-Reality Head-Up Display
The technology-focused approach continues inside the cabin.
One of the most prominent features is an 85-inch augmented-reality head-up display designed to project information into the driver’s field of view. Volkswagen says the system can provide guidance across three lanes as well as ground-level navigation information.
The cabin also features a floating central touchscreen, an AI-powered assistant and a 20-speaker audio system.
Buyers can choose from four exterior colors and three interior color schemes. A model-specific misty purple option is also available.
Wolf-Inspired Design and Advanced Lighting
Volkswagen describes the exterior design language of the ID. UNYX 09 as having a “wolf-like aesthetic.”
The front end features high-resolution DLP matrix projection headlights and interactive LED lighting. The system can project visual information such as lane-keeping lines and vehicle-width markings, adding another layer of assistance during nighttime driving.
Across the front and rear lighting assemblies, the vehicle has 422 individually controllable LED units. These can create lighting animations, light shows and even video projections in front of the vehicle.
The wolf theme also appears in the vehicle’s emblem, which references Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg heritage while incorporating design elements intended for the Chinese market.
Volkswagen and Xpeng Expand Their EV Partnership
Volkswagen’s partnership with Xpeng dates back to July 2023, when the German automaker announced a $700 million investment in the Chinese EV manufacturer.
The two companies agreed to jointly develop two Volkswagen-branded electric vehicles using Xpeng’s technology and software expertise.
The ID. UNYX 08 and ID. UNYX 09 are the first production results of that collaboration.
The partnership highlights Volkswagen’s strategy of working with established Chinese EV technology companies as competition in China’s electric vehicle market intensifies.
With its combination of Xpeng software, a large CATL battery, up to 370 kW of power and a starting price of 199,900 yuan, the Volkswagen ID. UNYX 09 represents another step in Volkswagen’s effort to develop China-specific electric vehicles faster and at more competitive prices.
For now, however, the new electric fastback remains a China-market model, with no European launch announced.
[source: CNEVPOST]
