Press Release

  • Car / SUV

Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

Like the Volkswagen I.D. and the I.D. Buzz, the latest electric drive concept vehicle from Volkswagen, the I.D. Crozz II, is also fitted with concept tyres from Hankook. The tyre was developed according to the specifications from the Volkswagen Group exclusively for the new electric crossover, which is currently being presented at the IAA in Frankfurt. The zero emissions vehicles Volkswagen I.D., I.D. Buzz and I.D. Crozz II with Hankook concept tyres can be seen on the Volkswagen fair stand at the IAA, in Hall 3, Stand A02.
Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

Neu-Isenburg, Germany, September 13th 2017 – A new concept tyre from premium tyre maker Hankook will be showcased on the new electric drive concept vehicle from Volkswagen, the I.D. Crozz II, at the IAA in Frankfurt. The four-door vehicle with all-wheel drive is the first electrically driven Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) from Volkswagen – a mixture between Coupé and SUV. Following the world première of the concept car in Shanghai in April, the company is presenting a new version of the I.D. Crozz at the IAA. Like the Volkswagen I.D. and the I.D. Buzz, the latest generation from the Volkswagen Group is also equipped with Hankook tyres.

With the concept tyre for the Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II, Hankook is again presenting an interpretation of innovative tyres for the electric vehicles of the future. The anthracite colour of the tyre blends in perfectly with the avant-garde design of the vehicle. The colouring is made with a special tread and side wall compound which contains white filler materials rather than soot. An inlay on the tyre side wall adapted to the tyre design provides a visual contrast and contributes to the harmonious interplay between wheel and tyre.

One special feature is that the concept tyre for the Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II got its special tread from a heated mould, just like conventional road tyres, and so the production process can be automated for the most part, which provides completely new opportunities. Up until now, the usual procedure for concept tyres has been to cut the tread painstakingly by hand into a blank tyre similar to a slick following vulcanisation. With the tyre for the I.D. Crozz II, only the inlay on the side wall was attached by hand.

The dimensions of the concept tyre correspond to size 245/45R21 in conventional tyres (I.D.: 215/45R20, I.D. Buzz: 235/45R22). The diameter, which is large compared to the tyre width, makes for a slim, high silhouette. This results in a lower drag coeffieient in relation to the contact area compared with conventional tyre dimensions, promoting optimum energy efficiency in conjunction with a lower rolling resistance. In addition, the large diameter results in less deformation and reshaping of the tyre, which has a positive effect on the rolling resistance. The size of the contact area, which is important for brake performance, traction and lateral stability, is relatively large despite the small tyre width, so that no compromises have to be made in terms of tyre performance in conjunction with the high-grip tread compound.

“We are very pleased to have implemented such a project together with Volkswagen. With the development of electric vehicles, the demands made on tyres will change in future, too. The rolling noise will play a more major role due to the lack of engine noise, and rolling resistance will have to be reduced even further to cut energy losses.” predicts Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Krause, head of the Hankook Europe Technical Centre in Hanover. “Nevertheless,” Krause continues, “future generations of Hankook tyres will still offer the same high safety as before.” Coloured tyres such as those on the Volkswagen I.D., the I.D. Buzz or the I.D. Crozz II are currently not competitive for cost reasons, but this does not mean they have to be reserved for concept cars: “Visual aspects can favour coloured tyres by all means. They can emphasise a vehicle's character and offer buyers further customising options for for their vehicles. Today's electric vehicle concepts show what can be possible in future.”

Hankook Tire manufactures globally innovative, award-winning radial tyres of proven superior quality for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/street circuits/rallies).

Aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in product quality, technological excellence and driving satisfaction, Hankook Tire continuously invests in research and development maintaining five R&D centres and eight production facilities around the world. Bespoke tyre solutions for the European markets as well as European Original Equipment according to the requirements of leading premium car manufacturers, are developed in the company’s regional Technical Centre in Hanover/Germany. Production for the European region is taking place in the state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Rácalmás/Hungary which was inaugurated in June 2007 and is continuously being expanded.

Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The manufacturer operates further branches in several European countries and sells its products through regional distributors in other local markets. Hankook Tire employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and sells products in over 160 countries. The company has been the technical partner and exclusive tyre supplier of the Generation 3 for the FIA ABB Formula E World Championship since 2023. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by Hankook for their original equipment. Approximately 38 percent of the company's global sales are generated within the European region.

For more information please visit www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com or www.hankooktire.com

Hankook Tire Europe GmbH | Marketing Communications Europe | Siemensstr. 14, 63263 Neu-Isenburg | Germany

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Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

Volkswagen Showcar I.D. CROZZ equipped with Hankook concept tyres.

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Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

Volkswagen Showcar I.D. CROZZ equipped with Hankook concept tyres.

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Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

Volkswagen I.D., Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ and the new Volkswagen I.D. CROZZ (from left)

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Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

File size: 2 MB

Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

File size: 2 MB

Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

File size: 2 MB

Visionary new electric drive concept vehicle Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II is fitted with concept tyres from Hankook

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Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

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Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

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Lisa Schmid

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Alexander Nevinny-Stickel

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Annika Malcherek

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Digital Lead Marketing Communications

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Digital Marketing Communications

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