Gasgoo Munich- On March 26, Volkswagen Anhui's premium "Gold Badge" brand unveiled its first full-size electric SUV in Hefei and opened pre-sales. The ID. UNYX 08 is priced between 239,900 and 299,900 yuan.
The ID. UNYX 08 marks the first mass-produced model born from the partnership between Volkswagen and XPENG. It took roughly 24 months to go from the drawing board to the assembly line — a timeline rarely seen among traditional joint ventures. That speed signals a rapid acceleration in the R&D and supply chain ecosystem Volkswagen is building in Hefei.
Positioned as a "full-time connected" full-size electric SUV, the ID. UNYX 08 measures 5,000mm in length with a 3,030mm wheelbase, placing it squarely in the mid-to-large segment. Buyers can choose between 82kWh and 95kWh battery options, with the latter offering a maximum CLTC range of 730km. Notably, it is the first mass-produced Volkswagen to feature an 800V silicon carbide platform, supporting DC fast charging at up to 315kW — enough to add 150km of range in just five minutes.
By design, the ID. UNYX 08 carries a dual mission for the Gold Badge brand in the era of smart mobility: uphold Volkswagen's "gold standard" for safety, handling, and durability, while leveraging local partnerships to close the intelligence gap that has long plagued joint ventures.
Intelligence: Dual Turing Chips and VLA End-to-End Model Onboard
On the intelligent driving front, the ID. UNYX 08 is powered by dual Turing AI chips delivering 1,500 TOPS of local computing power. It is equipped with 26 sensors, including 11 cameras, three millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. The system utilizes a VLA one-stage end-to-end model, supporting highway and city NOA along with parking fusion capabilities. The company claims this enables true "door-to-door" assisted driving.
In terms of hardware, 1,500 TOPS puts the vehicle at the high end of current mass-market offerings. The dual-chip setup provides computational redundancy, leaving headroom for future OTA upgrades. It is worth noting, however, that the system relies on a pure vision approach and does not include LiDAR.
Inside, the cockpit runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, featuring dual 15-inch 2.4K screens and a 10.25-inch instrument cluster. The AI assistant integrates capabilities from both Zhipu AI and Baidu's Wenxin model, supporting voice control across four zones without wake words and allowing users to configure up to 357 custom scenarios.
Notably, the dashboard features 1/4-inch threaded expansion ports, while the rear seats come standard with tablet mounts. Such details are rare in mass-produced vehicles, reflecting the product team's focus on users' needs for external device integration.
German DNA: Safety, Handling, and Durability Remain Core Pillars
Structurally, the ID. UNYX 08 employs a cage-style body design with high-strength steel making up 80% of the frame, including 38% aluminum in the body-in-white. Torsional stiffness reaches 39,572 Nm/deg. Underneath, a 26mm-thick EPP foam layer protects the battery pack, with official data indicating it can withstand roughly 1,300 joules of impact energy from below.
For battery safety, the pack — featuring cells and assembly from CATL — has undergone 436 distinct safety tests. Regarding thermal runaway protection, the company claims the system prevents fire and thermal propagation for up to 24 hours.
The chassis features front double-wishbone and rear five-link all-aluminum suspension, paired with dual-chamber air springs and DCC adaptive damping control. The braking system utilizes Bosch's IPB2.0 integrated technology, with Brembo four-piston fixed calipers up front. Official figures put the dry-surface braking distance from 100 km/h at 35.3 meters.
Durability testing covered 3.5 million kilometers across all scenarios, withstanding temperatures ranging from -40°C to 47°C. Anti-corrosion measures include Volkswagen's cavity waxing technology, backed by a guarantee of "no surface rust for three years, no perforation for 12 years."
Product Offensive and Channel Expansion Advance in Tandem
The arrival of the ID. UNYX 08 kicks off what the brand calls its "major product year" in 2026. According to official plans, the Gold Badge brand will introduce three new models that year: the ID. UNYX 07, the ID. UNYX 08, and a pure electric sedan. It will also roll out a facelifted version of the ID. UNYX 06.
On the distribution front, the brand plans to expand its sales network to 200 outlets by 2026, including the opening of a fifth direct-sales ID. UNYX experience center in Hangzhou. Pushing deeper into third- and fourth-tier cities is also a critical step in broadening its market coverage.
Judging by the product cadence, the Gold Badge brand is attempting to build a competitive foundation in China's smart EV market by compressing development cycles, accelerating product launches, and expanding its dealer network simultaneously.
The debut of the ID. UNYX 08 represents a major showcase for the Intelligent Connected Vehicle Center Volkswagen has established in Hefei. The product logic is clear: maintain the brand's traditional standards in safety, handling, and durability, while leveraging local partnerships to deliver high-spec hardware and advanced features in intelligent technology.
For joint venture automakers, balancing price, configuration, and user experience while preserving core brand DNA and closing the technology gap remains a long-term challenge. The ID. UNYX 08 offers a compelling case study of how that balance might be achieved.
