VW ID. Cross prototype put through its paces

We capture all-electric alternative to popular T-Cross on test ahead of going on sale next year with an expected price tag of around £25,000

- Ellis Hyde [e-mail]

THE first prototype of the new Volkswagen ID. Cross has been spotted testing. The sighting comes just a couple of months after the concept model of the ruggedly handsome small electric SUV was revealed and only a few weeks after we got behind the wheel of the ID. Cross Concept ourselves.

As the name suggests, the ID. Cross is the all-electric alternative to the popular VW T-Cross, which means the EV will rival the likes of the Renault 4, Ford Puma Gen-E and Citroen e-C3 Aircross.

It appears this prototype has borrowed its petrol-powered sibling's grille design, and possibly its front bumper as well, to serve as a disguise. However, VW's efforts don't conceal all that much, and it's pretty obvious from these images of the prototype that the road-going ID. Cross will look almost identical to the concept.

That's a good thing, because the ID. Cross Concept merged the familiar shape of the T-Cross with some of the macho bravado of Volkswagen's Amarok pickup truck. We can see the production version has a similarly muscular stance to the concept, thanks to flared wheelarches and a good amount of plastic cladding.