The Breakdown The ID. Unyx 08 looks nothing like the usual Volkswagen. It has dual 14.96-inch screens and a 10.25-inch digital driver's display. The electric SUV co-developed with Xpeng goes on sale in the coming weeks. While we wait for Volkswagen to turn China’s Teramont Pro into the 2027 Atlas, there’s a different SUV on the horizon, but this one won’t be shared with the rest of the world. Instead, the upcoming ID. Unyx 08 will be confined to Chinese borders. We first saw the exterior last November, when we were taken by surprise by its radically different design compared to global models. Now, it’s time to peek inside. The ID. Unyx 08 cabin is another reminder of how Chinese customers prefer screens, often to the detriment of physical controls. VW said so itself last year when explaining the differences between regions. While European buyers prioritize “tactile controls, long-term durability, and driving dynamics,” Chinese clients want “AI-first, connected vehicles, with seamless voice control and smart cockpits.” The center console appears devoid of conventional buttons, making way for a pair of 14.96-inch screens with 2.4K resolution. There’s still a separate instrument cluster, measuring 10.25 inches, and it too protrudes from the dashboard like the center displays. Not everything has migrated to the screens, though. We are pleased to see regular controls on the steering wheel and doors. Elsewhere, the ID. Unyx 08 features a dimming panoramic glass roof spanning 1.74 square meters (18.73 square feet), with 10 levels of opacity adjustment via voice control or the touchscreen. There are dual wireless charging pads atop a lower storage area, while rear occupants get large trays that fold down from the front seats. VW crammed a 20-speaker sound system and leather seats with 10-way electrical adjustment. The ID. Unyx 08 is a product of the Volkswagen Anhui joint venture and not an all-VW effort, as it was co-developed with Xpeng. If you can’t beat them, you might as well join them, right? Although the cabin may seem similar to the ID. Era 9X introduced last week, that’s a different electric SUV created by the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture, complete with a range-extending gas engine. This ID. Unyx 08 is purely electric, with a design you probably couldn’t tell was VW’s if it weren’t for the badges. Inside and out, it looks radically different from past models, whether global or Chinese. The electric SUV was initially previewed last year by the ID. Evo concept, and will go on sale in a few weeks. It’s 196.9 inches (5,000 millimeters) long and carries a generous wheelbase spanning 119.2 inches (3,030 millimeters). Fold the rear seats, and the expanded cargo area can swallow 65.1 cubic feet (1,845 liters). VW intends to sell the electric SUV in single- and dual-motor versions, along with a choice between 82- and 95-kWh battery packs. Up to 454 miles (730 kilometers) of range are quoted, albeit in the lenient CLTC cycle. Volkswagen ID. UNYX 08 Motor1's Take: VW is doing the right thing by separating its Chinese models from its global products. For decades, it applied a unified strategy by selling largely the same vehicles, usually with a stretched wheelbase for added legroom. Now, it appears to be putting more effort into giving Chinese buyers truly localized vehicles, some of which are co-developed with domestic automakers. The new wave of EVs for China comes at a time when the Volkswagen Group’s electric sales are on a downward spiral in the country. Demand dropped by 44 percent in 2025, and by the looks of things, AUDI, the new brand co-created with SAIC, isn’t moving the needle. To combat dwindling sales, the conglomerate intends to launch more than 20 EVs and plug-in hybrids across its brands this year alone. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team