Chinese Petroleum No Longer So Cheap!

In this age where gas prices keep hitting historic highs, Chinese Petroleum Corporation is no longer simply just an oil company, it is now seen as a golden investment opportunity. The cost of one liter of gas and one liter of Puer tea now differ only by a hair. Would you be willing to fill up your tank with tea?

Even meeting potential dates has become easier as one only needs to say “Fill it with 92” at a Chinese Petroleum station. If the other person doesn’t tremble and can fill it with 95 without running, they can be judged as middle or upper-class citizens. If they fill it with 98 without any facial reaction, don’t be suspicious, the gas station probably belongs to their family.

The unfairness of gas prices has caused subtle changes in the sales of automobiles. According to the statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and the China Passenger Car Association, gas vehicles have seen a decline in sales, while new energy vehicles have experienced growth. Even if you love gas-driven cars, reality will force you to acknowledge the truth that people’s bodies are always more honest than their sentimental values.

This pain caused by rising gas prices has become the razor for some car manufacturers. However, some car brands and models are only slightly ahead of market demands, such as Volkswagen and their 1-year-old ID.4 CROZZ.

During the last two months of 2021, ID.4 CROZZ sold 5,187 and 6,535 units respectively. Since last August, their sales have remained over 3,000 units, totaling over 30,000 vehicles. Their statistics have outperformed most other pure electric vehicles on the market.

In the turbulent market environment of early 2022, according to the data published by the China Passenger Car Association, ID.4 CROZZ had sales of 2,311 units in February, which increased by 1,183.9% year-on-year. Their total sales in January and February reached 5,316 units, increasing by 2,853.3% year-on-year. The numbers show that the product’s quality is truly excellent as people’s wallets are always quicker to open than their ears.

What are we really saying when we talk about ID.4 CROZZ?

The answer is simpler than it seems – its appearance and drivability are among its best features.

As a female automotive editor, my outlook on life tells me that no one is likely to delve into a car’s fascinating soul if the outward appearance isn’t appealing. Just like how I take the time to organize my garbage disposal, the car must also have a pleasing appearance. For a car to become attractive, I firmly believe that the ability to make a good first impression is key.

Volkswagen has been deeply involved in the Chinese market for so long that their stable and classic image has become ingrained in people’s minds. However, ID.4 CROZZ has managed to break through not only Volkswagen’s own stereotypes but also those of similar electric cars on the market.

At first sight of the ID.4 CROZZ, I couldn’t help exclaiming that this is the youngest-looking Volkswagen model I have ever seen.

This is mainly reflected in several details –

Looking at the front of the car, it is difficult to imagine that this is a Volkswagen. Because of its brand new family-style design, especially the front part. The closed front face, rounded and slightly sharp lines, and the black honeycomb grille below not only create a sense of sportiness, but also provide automatic closure functionality, which can keep the battery warm and dissipate heat effectively.

The most distinctive feature is the light strip running through the front face and the illuminated “VW” logo. It is not only the iconic design of the ID series, but also the first business card that the ID.4 CROZZ presents to people face-to-face. The first glance will definitely surprise you.

Of course, there are many other business cards that it presents.

Door handles that light up, magnetic coils that illuminate the ground after opening the door, ID.Light intelligent matrix headlights with greeting function, and the tail lights that run through the rear of the car. This is the first time that Volkswagen has used the 3D LED tail light group on a car model. It not only forms a good front-to-back correspondence with the headlights but also completes a 360-degree appearance that fully displays the technology and futuristic feeling of the whole car.

My favorite feature is its diverse color selection. Could you imagine that there would be blue, red, yellow, and gray Volkswagen to choose from? When I mentioned this point to my father, who used to drive a Volkswagen, he immediately questioned me, and then lost to me in a hot pot battle.

If you have a deeper understanding of its soul, you will understand that this ID.4 CROZZ is “lighting up” from the appearance to the soul.

To create a better driving atmosphere, ID.4 CROZZ is equipped with 30 adjustable interior ambient lights in different colors. Multiple sets of surrounding light strips are displayed in a breathing style, and different light languages represent different vehicle statuses. A set of light strips always cure every young person on the way home at night, and coexist with breathing light strips, enjoying the last moments of music before they get home. It is also a rare healing moment for every young person who steps into society.

No one can say no to this set of light strips, and I firmly believe so. Although we cannot see any redundant and complex design from this ID.4 CROZZ, every part of it, from appearance to interior to space, is used to the fullest, and these glowing existences are the reasons why I firmly approve it.

It is Volkswagen, the one that understands young people the most, and also the one that likes to write “breakthrough” in the automotive market.

Then there is the ease of driving.

There are many aspects to good driving. In this world, few electric cars do not talk about their performance, but Volkswagen is different. This ID.4 CROZZ is different from most electric cars on the market. It tells everyone through actual actions that electric cars that only talk about “performance” without talking about “ease of driving” are all liars.

Due to the characteristics of the motor, all electric cars can obtain a large torque at the start. This is why an electric car can keep up with a Porsche side-by-side without using a false starting speed. However, electric cars that only “skip” are actually just a “straight-line machine”. After skipping, you can feel a back-pushing sensation, and then there is nothing left (1k words of venting are omitted here).

ID.4 CROZZ has three power combinations based on different battery groups and electric motors. The rear-wheel drive single-motor version provides high and low power settings, with a maximum power of 150kW (204 horsepower) and 125kW (170 horsepower), respectively. The four-wheel drive dual-motor version adds a front motor, and the maximum power increases to 225kW (306 horsepower). No matter which model you drive, you will feel a smooth and gentle power output.

This is the intentionally designed result of Volkswagen and ID.4 CROZZ. Because of such smoothness and gentleness, you will get three major benefits:

Firstly, the driving experience is almost no different from fuel-powered cars; secondly, the dizziness feeling that is often seen in electric cars no longer exists; finally, it has the actual endurance closest to the comprehensive endurance.

Almost every point corresponds to the pain points of most electric car consumers on the current market. Who drives knows. As a loyal fan of fuel-powered cars, I was surprised by its driving feel. This is Volkswagen, an unremarkable genius.

In addition to this, there are more dimensions of good driving reflected in this ID.4 CROZZ.As a professional translator for the automotive industry, I will provide an English translation of the Chinese text in Markdown format while preserving the HTML tags within:

Good example: a turning radius even smaller than the mini, as low as 4.85 meters; 12-way adjustable, with massage and heated front and rear seats; IQ.Drive automatic driving assistance system that can support up to 60 seconds of parking without exiting the vehicle; the combination of AR HUD and ID.Light navigation system can directly eliminate the stress of navigation.

During my test drive, I was impressed by the last navigation feature because it displays the guiding arrow directly on the windshield. As the vehicle drives, the arrow moves closer and closer. Additionally, the ID.Light system at the bottom of the windshield has a light band that can produce a flowing effect to remind the driver. The technology and safety experience are top-notch.

That is the ID.4 CROZZ. I can tell you what is good about it and even share what is exceptionally good about it. Regarding any future improvements, we can expect high expectations because of the Volkswagen Group’s background.

There is still much to be said about this ID.4 CROZZ. For example, safety, intelligence, technology, and cost-effectiveness are all comparable competitors in the same category.

The reason it is so outstanding is that the ID.4 CROZZ bears a lot of responsibility. As the first pure electric SUV on the Volkswagen MEB platform, it not only continues the glory of Volkswagen’s manufacturing genes but also continues to cultivate the rigorous quality and advanced experience of German cars in the Chinese market.

It is good news that it has successfully completed the first task at its one-year anniversary: it is a good-looking car that runs well, then a safe and good-looking car that Volkswagen built, and finally a safe and attractive pure electric vehicle that Volkswagen constructed.

From a market perspective, as an old car company that has entered the pure electric era, Volkswagen has successfully passed its first test with the ID.4 CROZZ. Now it is the moment to fight harder because it comes when gasoline is too expensive.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.