Tag: volkswagen electric vehicle

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Volkswagen ditches awful ID Crozz name for its forthcoming electric compact SUV

Volkswagen’s ID Crozz, which was first unveiled in concept form back in 2017, is growing up and shedding its awful name. The German automaker announced today that it is ditching the eye-rolling name given to the concept version — Crozz, as in crossover. Get it? — in favor of the more neutral-sounding “ID.4.” The eventual production version will squeeze 300 miles of range out of its battery. And most importantly, it will be a global car, sold in Europe, China, and the US.

We don’t know exactly when the ID 4 will go on sale, only that it will follow the ID 3, which is expected to roll out in Europe later this year. But as the first electric VW from its new ID lineup to hit the US market, expectations are sure to be high for this compact SUV.

Both vehicles are members of VW’s ID electric lineup, which also includes concept versions of a large SUV (ID Roomzz), a dune buggy (ID Buggy), and a revamped version of its iconic microbus (ID Buzz), for which VW has also promised a delivery variant. All are being built on Volkswagen’s modular electric vehicle platform known as MEB.THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THAT VW HAS FUTZED WITH ITS NAMING CONVENTIONS

This isn’t the first time that VW has futzed with its naming conventions. The automaker first introduced its electric lineup as the “I.D.” family, but later began referring to its Golf-style variant as “ID.3.” Other vehicles, like the ID R racecar, include an extra space in between. It’s a bit confusing, but I’m sure VW will settle on something more consistent once these vehicles start rolling off the production line.

Details about the ID 4 are a bit scarce for now, but VW confirmed there will be both all-wheel and rear-wheel drive layouts, with the former being the version available at launch. The battery is positioned in the center of the underbody to create a low center of gravity and optimize driving dynamics. The digital cockpit will operate using both touchscreens and intuitive voice commands.

The ID family of vehicles won’t be VW’s first foray into battery-powered drivetrains. VW-subsidiary Porsche recently revealed its first all-electric sports car, the Taycan. The E-Tron, the first battery-electric SUV from Volkswagen Group-owned Audi, debuted in 2018. Together, these vehicles represent the tip of the spear in VW’s effort to dominate the emerging EV market. They’re also crucial in helping VW turn the page on the now-four-year-old Dieselgate scandal, in which VW was accused of installing illegal software in 11 million diesel cars in order to trick emissions tests.

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Volkswagen unveils the ID.3, its first ‘electric car for the masses’

Volkswagen has rolled out the final version of its first affordable long-range electric car, the ID.3, at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Coming in at “under €30,000” (about $33,180, currently), the ID.3 will come in three variants that offer between roughly 205 and 340 miles of range. The EV is slated to be delivered in mid-2020.

That “under €30,000” price tag VW is promoting applies to the base model of the ID.3, which has a 45kWh battery and offers 420 kilometers, or 205 miles of range. The company declined to provide pricing information for the two larger capacity variants of the car, which will feature 58kWh and 77kWh batteries, and will respectively offer around 330 and 550 kilometers (or 261 and 340 miles) per charge.THAT “UNDER €30,000” PRICE TAG VW IS PROMOTING APPLIES TO THE BASE MODEL OF THE ID.3

VW says the base version of the ID.3 will only charge at up to 50kW, and owners who want to charge faster (up to 100kW) will have to pay extra; 100kW charging will come standard on the midrange 58kWh version, while even faster 125kW charging will be available on the top-tier ID.3. The company is also offering an eight year / 160,000 kilometer warranty on the ID.3’s battery pack.

The ID.3, which resembles the German automaker’s popular Golf hatchback, has the potential to be a very important car for VW. It will be the first vehicle built on the company’s new modular all-electric platform, one that will power dozens more cars and SUVs that are waiting in the wings as part of the larger Volkswagen Group’s multibillion-dollar push into EVs. (That said, VW has no plans to release the car in the US right now, and it’s also unclear whether the company will sell the car in China.)

The ID.3 is also the first in a lineup of “ID”-branded cars, many of which we’ve already seen in concept form. Over the next few years, VW will release a crossover SUV (the I.D. Crozz), a sedan (the I.D. Vizzion), a larger SUV (the I.D. Roomzz), and will relaunch its iconic microbus and dune buggy as all-electric vehicles (the I.D. Buzz and I.D. Buggy, respectively).

While the ID.3 may resemble an updated Golf from the outside, VW says it will be far roomier on the inside. By removing the internal combustion engine, placing the electric motor right on the rear axle, and putting the batteries in the vehicle’s floor, the automaker is able to extend the cabin forward, thus freeing up previously inaccessible space to the company’s designers.

The result should be a car that’s compact in profile, but feels more comfortable to ride in, and also has more storage than a vehicle of this size. Extra space is a common promise when it comes to EVs, but it may matter even more in a car like the ID.3, which will cost less than almost any other all-electric on the market. VW is likely to hammer on this point as it ramps up to the 2020 release of the car.NOT AS SEVERE AN EXERCISE IN MINIMALISM AS TESLA’S MODEL 3

Inside that more spacious cabin, drivers and passengers will find an interior that is more high-tech than what VW currently offers at lower price points. The central focus is a new 10-inch touchscreen that sits in the middle of the ID.3’s dashboard. But VW has also opted to rely on touch-sensitive buttons throughout the cabin. In fact, the only things that are controlled through physical buttons, VW says, are the windows and the hazard lights. The ID.3’s interior may not be as severe an exercise in minimalism as Tesla’s Model 3, but it’s just as dismissive of physical buttons.

Some other high-tech touches include an optional “augmented reality” heads-up display that projects information onto the ID.3’s windshield, and voice-activated controls that can be triggered by saying “Hello ID.” There’s a wireless charging mat for smartphones, and buyers can upgrade to a Beats-branded stereo package, which VW says “offers an audio atmosphere like at a live concert.”

The ID.3 can also be equipped with keyless entry, and the car’s LED matrix headlights will even “flutter” a set of “eyelids” when the owner approaches, a feature that VW says gives the car a “friendly” and “human” touch.

VW has touted that many of its other I.D.-brand cars will be developed with autonomy in mind, but the ID.3 will go on sale with just a basic set of driver assistance features. Those include automatic emergency braking and lane assist / lane keep functionality.

The ID.3 unveiling comes a few days after VW-subsidiary Porsche revealed its first all-electric sports car, the Taycan. The E-Tron, the first battery-electric SUV from Volkswagen Group-owned Audi, debuted almost a year ago. Together, these vehicles represent the tip of the spear in VW’s effort to dominate the emerging EV market. They’re also crucial in helping VW turn the page on the now-four-year-old Dieselgate scandal, in which VW was accused of installing illegal software in 11 million diesel cars in order to trick emissions tests.

Source: The Verge

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VW to unveil ID3 electric car next week, compares importance to the launch of the Golf

Volkswagen confirmed that it’s going to unveil the ID3, its first electric car built on the MEB platform, next week, and the automaker compares the importance to the launch of the Golf and the Beetle — two vehicles that have been game changers in the auto industry.

We have been seeing camouflaged prototypes of the ID3 for years now, but we have yet to see exactly what the production version looks like.

VW announced today that it will unveil the production version of the ID3 next ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) and the electric vehicle will be displayed at the show from September 10-22.

In a press release today, Volkswagen compared the launch of the vehicle to the Beetle and the Golf:

The ID.3 follows the Beetle and the Golf to introduce the third major chapter of strategic importance for the history of the Volkswagen brand. Back in mid-May, Volkswagen enjoyed a successful launch taking pre-bookings for the ID.3 1st Edition, an exclusive special edition boasting fantastic levels of equipment, limited to a run of just 30,000 vehicles.

Volkswagen says that it will be equipped with the medium-size battery pack option that has a capacity of 58 kWh for a range of 420 km (261 miles) based on the WLTP standard.

The regular production version of the ID.3 will be offered with three different battery pack options.

The 58 kWh represents the mid-range option, and VW will also offer 45 and 77 kWh battery packs:

The standard model will even be available in three variants: with the small battery (45 kWh, net) you will get up to 330 km (WLTP) far, and with the large (77 kWh, net) pack you will get up to 550 km (WLTP) possible. So there is the right model for almost every goal.

It represents between 205 and 342 miles of range based on the WLTP standard, which is known to be a little too generous.

The EPA-rated range should be closer to 185 to 310 miles of range, but it’s irrelevant since it doesn’t look like VW currently has plans to launch the vehicle in the US.

Nonetheless, it’s expected to be an important all-electric vehicle in other markets due to its price.

VW confirmed that they are targeting a based price of “less than €30,000” in Germany, where they need to advertise with the price including VAT.

After incentives, it is expected to be one of the most affordable long-range electric cars on the market.

Electrek’s Take

I would agree that it is as important as the Beetle and the Golf for VW because I think they literally need the car to save the company.

Without mass-produced electric cars, legacy automakers are going to fail.

The VW ID3 is definitely going to be a mass-produced electric car.

It’s going to be produced at VW’s Zwickau factory, which is being completely converted to electric vehicle production within the next two years.

Of course, the vehicle still needs to be good, but I am optimistic. I think it will be, but we will know for sure in just a few days.

Source: Electrek