The long awaited Volkswagen ID.3 has finally been revealed in its fully production-ready flesh. The ID.3 will hope to channel the success of Volkswagen’s original Beetle which succeeded immensely in the mass market.
Although we have had an already good understanding of the specs going into the reveal thanks to the countless teasers and reports put out by Volkswagen, it is nice to finally have some concrete numbers. One big omission however is that we still do not have any final pricing on any of the variants of the ID.3.
Speaking of variants, at this point there are three different versions of the Volkswagen ID.3 planned, all with different sized battery packs.
Short-Range VW ID.3
This is obviously the version that Volkswagen states will start at under €30,000 ($33,000). It will have 45 kWh of usable energy content that will give it a WLTP rated range of up to 330 km (205 miles). The basic version will come standard with 50 kW charging, but 100 kW charging can be obtained as an option.
Mid-Range VW ID.3 (also ID.3 1st)
The medium ranged version of the ID.3 will be the first to be delivered for those who pre-ordered the ID.3 1st edition of the car. This version will have a 58 kWh of usable energy which will enable the car to have a WLTP rated range of up to 420 km (260 miles). Once again there is no concrete pricing, but Volkswagen states that the 1st Edition will start below €40,000 ($44,000). This mid-range version will have 100 kW charging available.
Additionally, the ID.3 1st will be offered in three different configurations that come with varying degrees of options and advanced technologies:
The basic version of the ID.3 1st includes a navigation system, a DAB+ digital radio, seat heating and steering wheel heating, armrests at the front, a Mode 2 charging cable and 18-inch light-alloy wheels.
The ID.3 1st Plus additionally features a rear view camera system, ACC Adaptive Cruise Control and the Kessy Advanced keyless access locking and starting system. The vehicle interior of the ID.3 1st Plus also includes design seats, a centre console with two USB-C connections and ambient lighting. Forming part of the exterior equipment scope are tinted windows, the exterior Style package in silver, matrix LED headlights, matrix side lights, brake lights, turn indicators and tail light clusters as well as 19-inch light-alloy wheels.
The top-of-the-range version, the ID.3 1st Max, also includes an augmented reality (AR) head-up display, the Beats sound system, a large panorama sliding/tilting glass roof as well as 20-inch light-alloy wheels. This equipment scope is supplemented by a lane keeping system with Emergency Assist, a lane change system, telephony featuring contactless high-voltage battery charging and comfort seats.
Another perk of the 1st Edition is that owners will be able to charge free of charge for one year at any of the over 100,000 WeCharge charging points. This however is limited to 2,000 kWh of energy before the perk ends.
Long-Range VW ID.3
Lastly, the top-tier version of the ID.3 will have a 77 kWh battery that will give the ID.3 a WLTP rated range of up to 550 km (341 miles). This version will also have a charge rate of 125 kW, making it one of the fastest charging cars on the market. Also given its estimated range, the Volkswagen ID.3 could overtake the Tesla Model 3 in terms of range, making it a seriously appealing alternative to the American electric car. There is no word on pricing on this version as well, but if Volkswagen intends to be aggresivly competitive with the Model 3, we imagine that the Long-Range ID.3 will be in the high $40k- low $50k range.
The press release was not entirely clear, but it seems like all versions will feature a single rear motor that generates 150 kW and delivers a maximum torque of 310 newton meters. Additionally the top speed for all the versions will be 160 km/h (99 mph).
Moving on to design, the exterior of the ID.3 does share resemblance to Volkswagen’s ever-popular Golf, but there are enough differences between the two that I don’t think there would be a big issue in mixing up the two. The design is unmistakably futuristic and “electric” with copious use of LED lights and curvy aerodynamic lines and wheels. Volkswagen does have high hopes that the design of the ID.3 will go down in history as an iconic car design.
From the press release:
Thanks to its newly developed design DNA, the ID.3 is immediately identifiable as a zero emission vehicle—with the potential of becoming a new automotive icon. Most of all, its innovative merging of design and technology puts the ID.3 on the same level as the iconic Beetle and Golf. It demonstrates the design of a new era and links its natural shape and intuitive usability with the characteristic Volkswagen smile.
Overall it is about the same length as the Golf, but thanks to the short overhangs, the wheelbase is longer allowing for considerably more interior space.
Moving on the the interior, Volkswagen continues the industry trend of consolidating the controls into one giant center screen, with little to no physical buttons or switches. Aside from tactile switches for the hazard lights and window operation, everything can be controlled from the center 10-inch screen.
Instead of a more commonly used Heads-Up Display (HUD), Volkswagen has an option Augmented Reality (AR) Display that will display relevant information onto the windshield while taking into account vehicles that are ahead of you. Additionally the ID.3 will feature voice commands so you may not even end up having to use the central display.
The ID.3 is not without assistance and safety features which include “Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring, multicollision brake and Lane Assist lane keeping system, Side Assist lane change system, Park Assist including rear view camera system as well as a keyless access system (Kessy Advanced) featuring illuminated door handles.”
Volkswagen will start series production of the ID.3 in November and will build up their inventory before starting deliveries in “mid-2020”. Once again, we here in the United States will not receive the ID.3. The first MEB-based electric Volkswagen that will be allotted to us will be the upcoming ID CROZZ that will be produced domestically.
Overall I am a fan of the ID.3 in both its looks and performance. The Short-Range ID.3 will be one of the cheapest electric cars that you can buy and the Long-Range version will possibly put a dent in the runaway lead that all three Tesla models have in regards to range.
We will patiently wait for final pricing of all the versions and options before we make a definitive judgement on the ID.3.
What do you guys think of the ID.3? What do you think the final prices will end up being? Let us know down in the comments below.
Source: Volkswagen
