A Face ID sensor embedded in the B-pillar is not a feature most people expect from a Volkswagen.
Yet the ID. Unyx 09, unveiled at this year’s Beijing Auto Show, carries exactly that — alongside illuminated badges, flush door handles, and a black design element that stretches continuously from the front fender across the doors and visually connects to the headlights. It is a deliberate departure from conventional European restraint, shaped for a market that has different expectations.
The 09 is a sedan, measuring over five meters in length. It shares its design language with the ID. Unyx 08 crossover, including split light units and two elongated DRLs running along the front. Where the 08 is a crossover, the 09 is lower and more aerodynamic — a distinction that matters given the range figures associated with its sibling.
The 08 crossover, built on an 800-volt platform, offers an 82-kWh battery with 630 km of range or a 95-kWh unit rated at 730 km. The 09 is expected to carry the same drivetrain lineup. Powertrain configurations run from a single-motor rear-wheel-drive setup producing 230 kW to a dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant rated at 370 kW — the equivalent of 496 horsepower. Given the sedan’s shape, actual range figures could exceed what the 08 achieves.
On the safety side, the 09 will run an L2-assisted driving system with Navigate-on-Autopilot functionality, operable on both highways and city roads. The onboard computing architecture is designed to handle multiple driving tasks simultaneously, supported by an integrated AI assistant.
The interior, inferred from the 08’s cabin, is expected to feature three screens — a smaller gauge cluster and two large infotainment displays — combined with ambient lighting and a flat-top, flat-bottom dual-spoke steering wheel. The overall aesthetic targets the preferences of Chinese consumers, where bold and technology-dense interiors have become standard expectations rather than optional upgrades.
Volkswagen brand China CEO Robert Cisek outlined the broader ambition at the show: “In 2026 alone, we will launch 13 new energy models, and by 2029, we will quickly expand the new energy product lineup covering pure electric, plug-in, and extended range technologies. We combined German craftsmanship with local innovation to create new models for our customers with Chinese speed, leading technology, and benchmark quality and safety.”
Production will take place at the Anhui factory in Hefei. The 09 is currently classified as a concept. Volkswagen does not expect significant visual changes before it reaches the production line — if it does.
Volkswagen ID. Unyx 09 – Photo Gallery
