Update: See our summary of the highlights and numerous screenshots here: What Have We Just Learned About The 2020 Volkswagen ID.3 All-Electric Hatchback?
Volkswagen will today host a livestream from Berlin to launch the initial phase of the ID. hatchback pre-booking process. (Yes, the name now includes a period at the end.) You can watch the livestream here from 13:00 Central European Time. Pre-booking is planned to open shortly after the livestream, even though the 1st editions will not be delivered until Q1 2020. You can watch the livestream here:
Click this link if you have problems with the embedded player.
We will be monitoring the livestream and reporting on the key details via a post shortly afterwards. For now …
What do we know so far?
VW has released a limited amount of information and images over the past couple of years. Although concept versions have been called “ID. Neo,” the hatchback seems likely to eventually be named the “ID.3” (we think).
As part of the PR hype, VW temporarily leaked a video last week and some screengrabs emerged online:
Respected German media outlet Auto Bild got a chance to drive a development car in December 2018. The outlet described it as having roughly the external dimensions of a Golf, with internal space closer to a Passat (the next larger size up in the VW lineup). We know internal space can be much better in EVs than in fossils due to the much more compact powertrain components — not least, doing away with a big heavy block of metal and accessories from under the hood.
Here’s a table of our best estimates of the specifications so far. The live stream should allow us to fill in some of the missing specs, and we’ll update these in the next post:
Notice that, so far as we know, the entry-level 48 kWh version, apparently to be priced just under €30,000, will not go on sale until 2021. The first available versions will be the 62 kWh and/or 82 kWh variants, which will likely be priced from around €36,000 and up. These should see deliveries in Q1 2020.
It seems VW will not yet be breaking any new ground on pricing, compared to the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro. Having a WLTP range of around 240–260 miles for a mid-€30K car is about where the European electric vehicle market is right now. However, where VW may break the mold is in available volume: it is planning to produce up to 500,000 units per year within the first couple of years (perhaps by 2021–2022). That’s some ways off still, but the promise to get there should encourage other electric vehicle producers to step up their own efforts.
We don’t yet have much information about the power and performance of the ID, but hopefully we’re about to learn a bit more. We’ll update the spec sheet with the information gleaned from the livestream, and we’ll bring you another article soon!
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