Volkswagen Opens Preorders for ID. AURA T6 Electric Crossover: Up to 660 km Range, LiDAR, and a $20,000 Starting Price

The FAW-Volkswagen joint venture has opened preorders for the new midsize electric crossover ID. AURA T6. Built on the latest CEA software and hardware platform developed in partnership with Xpeng, the model features an advanced LiDAR-based autopilot and starts at 135,900 yuan (approximately $20,200).

Dimensions, aerodynamics, and two trunks

The crossover made its public debut at the Chengdu Auto Show 2026. In terms of size, it fits into the classic midsize SUV segment: it measures 4,811 mm in length, 1,879 mm in width, and 1,648 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,836 mm.

Thanks to the sloping roofline and active grille shutters, the engineers achieved an excellent drag coefficient of 0.245 Cd.

According to CarNewsChina, the vehicle is practical:

• The main trunk offers 576 liters of space (expanding to 1,796 liters with the second row folded);
• Under the hood, there’s an additional front trunk (frunk) with a capacity of 90 liters.

Batteries up to 660 km and performance

The electric car is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor producing 170 kW (228 hp), which accelerates the SUV to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.

Buyers can choose between two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery options:

• 59.9 kWh: up to 540 km of range on the CLTC test cycle;
• 77.5 kWh: up to 660 km (CLTC).

Carizon autopilot with 192-line LiDAR

One of the key technological highlights of the ID. AURA T6 is the autonomous driving suite from Carizon, a joint venture between Volkswagen and Horizon Robotics.

As reported by IT Home, the two top trims of the crossover are equipped with a 192-line LiDAR, and data from sensors and cameras is processed by the Horizon Journey 6H chip with a performance of 420 TOPS.

The system supports:

• NOA navigation autopilot for highways and city streets;
• Multi-level parking memory that can store routes up to 3 km long;
• Automatic reverse along the driven path for up to 200 meters.

Interior: three displays, 26-inch projection, and 18 speakers

The interior is designed to meet the high expectations of Chinese buyers. According to an Autohome review, the digital cockpit includes:

• A central touchscreen with a 15.6-inch diagonal and 2.5K resolution;
• A 10.25-inch digital driver’s display;
• An augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) with a projection size of 25.8 inches.

The infotainment system is based on a 4nm automotive processor (20 TOPS) and supports wireless Apple CarPlay, Huawei HiCar, and CarLink. The audio system delivers 920 watts through 18 speakers with Dolby Atmos spatial sound. The front seats offer ventilation, heating, massage, and a reclining lounge mode, while rear passengers get fold-out tables.

Xpeng’s CEA architecture and trim levels

The ID. AURA T6 is one of the first production models built on the China Electronic Architecture (CEA), which Volkswagen developed together with Xpeng engineers under the “In China, for China” strategy. Centralized computing has significantly reduced the number of separate control units and accelerated over-the-air (OTA) software updates.

The preorder lineup consists of four trims:

• 540 Pro: 135,900 yuan (~$20,200);
• 660 Pro: 149,900 yuan (~$22,300);
• 660 Max LiDAR: 159,900 yuan (~$23,800);
• 660 Ultra LiDAR: 169,900 yuan (~$25,300).

For now, the model is exclusively aimed at the Chinese market and is designed to compete directly with local tech-savvy brands in the price range of up to $25,000.