SAIC Volkswagen opened pre-orders for the ID. ERA 8X on Sept. 28, according to a post on SAIC Volkswagen’s WeChat account. As the third model in the ID. ERA family, the ID. ERA 8X is positioned as a five-seat range-extended SUV and features the EA211 range extender, Xingyun intelligent chassis and Momenta R7 World Model, among other technologies.Image Source: SAIC VolkswagenKey TakeawaysThe ID. ERA 8X is offered in four variants: Pro, Max, Max Long Range and Ultra Long Range.The Max Long Range uses a 65.2-kWh CATL battery, with a claimed CLTC battery-powered range of 451 km and combined range of 1,602 km.The ID. ERA 8X debuts a D2D, or door-to-door, navigation function designed to connect driving, gate passage and parking from the starting parking space to the destination.Positioning and variantsThe Pro comes standard with the Momenta R7 World Model and LiDAR, 800V fast charging, the EA211 range extender, a double-wishbone front and five-link rear independent suspension, dual 15.6-inch screens, a Smart Surface display, W-HUD, a 12-liter dual-opening intelligent refrigerator and Nappa leather seats, as well as front-seat 10-point massage and heating, ventilation and memory functions for the front and rear seats.The Max adds intelligent all-wheel drive and dual-chamber air suspension, along with power-assisted doors, continuously variable damping and an intelligent predictive suspension system with one-touch leveling.The Ultra Long Range adds features including dual front zero-gravity seats, a power leg rest for the right rear seat, 10-point massage for both front and rear seats, a 23-speaker 7.1.4 panoramic sound system, adaptive matrix headlights, a foldable table for the front passenger, AI seat temperature control, headrest speakers and 21-inch wheels.Driver assistanceThe ID. ERA 8X has 26 sensing components, including a 192-line LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar and high-definition cameras, and will feature the Momenta R7 World Model from launch. According to SAIC Volkswagen, the system supports 29 scenarios, including passing another vehicle in a narrow space, three-point turns, avoidance maneuvers and roundabouts.The D2D navigation function is designed to integrate driving, gate passage and parking between the starting and destination parking spaces. SAIC Volkswagen says the system improves avoidance safety by nearly 10 times when maneuvering around stationary vehicles, while safety metrics in scenarios such as in-lane avoidance and diversion improve by at least three to five times. The automaker also claims nearly a 15-fold improvement in lane-changing efficiency through its understanding of surrounding vehicle movements.Powertrain, range and chargingThe ID. ERA 8X uses Volkswagen’s EA211 range extender, which has undergone 15 years of development and three generations of upgrades, with more than 25 million units installed globally, according to the automaker. The range extender has a maximum thermal efficiency of 43% and uses technologies including variable turbine geometry turbocharging and 350-bar high-pressure direct injection.The vehicle has a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of as quick as 4.6 seconds and a tested fuel consumption of 5.85 liters per 100 km under a depleted-battery condition. All variants support 800V fast charging, with a claimed 10%-80% charging time of 16 minutes, and 3.5-kW external power output.The Max Long Range is equipped with a 65.2-kWh CATL battery and has a claimed CLTC battery-electric range of 451 km and combined range of 1,602 km.Chassis and handlingThe ID. ERA 8X uses a double-wishbone front and five-link rear independent suspension. Max and higher variants add a predictive suspension system that can preview road conditions up to 15 meters ahead and 150-mm-travel dual-chamber air suspension.Interior and spaceThe five-seat SUV measures 5,020 mm in length and has a 2,970-mm wheelbase. It features power-operated doors and a wraparound cabin. Nappa leather seats are standard across the range, while both front and rear seats offer heating, ventilation and massage functions. The right rear seat adds a power leg rest and can recline to up to 133 degrees.A Smart Surface display is placed on the rear door, allowing passengers to adjust the seats and temperature and monitor traffic approaching from the side and rear when exiting the vehicle. The 12-liter dual-opening intelligent refrigerator can be accessed from both rows and can hold eight 550-ml bottles.Safety and validationThe ID. ERA 8X completed summer testing in Xinjiang in July. Before its launch, the model had accumulated more than 1 million km of road testing and an additional 500,000 km of off-road durability testing, covering high-temperature and extreme-cold conditions, according to SAIC Volkswagen.All ID. ERA 8X variants feature seven layers of thermal-runaway protection, while the battery underside is designed to withstand a 2,000-joule impact. Nine airbags are standard across the range.What to watch nextThe ID. ERA 8X is scheduled to officially hit the market on Oct. 12, where SAIC Volkswagen will announce its final pricing.