Volkswagen says it is once again becoming “a brand for the people” as it unveils its new affordable compact electric vehicle (EV), the ID. 2all.
The ID. 2all concept car unveiled at the world premiere on Wednesday night will be launched in 2025 with an intended starting price of under €25,000 (A$40,000).
The recurring message was that the ID. 2all will be “inside as spacious as a Golf, but outside as cute and small as a Polo”, measuring in at just 4050mm long.
The technical details revealed so far for the ID. 2all include a range of up to 450km, a total output from the electric motor of 166kW, and a top speed of 160km/h, which can be reached in under seven seconds.
In terms of exterior design, the ID. 2all takes a new approach to the C-pillar, creating a connected line between the backline and the bonnet for a sporty stance.
Exposed wheel arches and ascending ‘friendly’ lines on the front of the car create a small vehicle Volkswagen says it hopes will reflect the important heritage elements of the Polo and Golf while also ‘catching the GTI fanbase’.
The inside of the concept car shows an interior that is horizontally connected, making the cabin feel spacious, with physical steering wheel controls, a large central infotainment screen, and a digital cluster for the driver.
In the centre console is a rotary mode selector that can transform the dashboard into several themes including a classic 1980s Bug thanks to ‘vintage mode’.
The ID. 2all will be the first model built on the MEB architecture to offer front-wheel drive.
Volkswagen says the MEB mechanical and software platform will also allow for faster charging and range normally reserved for higher classes of vehicles such as the ID.Buzz.
The MEB platform, the modular architecture for the Volkswagen Group’s small to medium battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will allow the ID. 2all to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes.
When asked if there would be a GTX version, head of product communications Stefan Voswinkel said, “It’s a little bit too early to talk about that but I can confirm there will be a performance version of the ID.2all production car”.
The premiere event, which showed the ID. 2all alongside a host of iconic Volkswagen models through the decades represented Volkswagen’s current push towards the electrification of its range.
Volkswagen announced yesterday it will be investing €122 billion (~A$197 billion) in the ‘future fields’ of digitalisation and electrification between 2023 and 2027.
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer reminded viewers the brand will be pushing out 10 new all-electric vehicles by 2026, which includes a compact SUV and an even cheaper EV under €20,000 (A$32,000).
Mr Schafer also stated that Volkswagen aims that by 2030, 80 per cent of all vehicles sold will be EVs – improving on the previous target of 70 per cent.
So far, Volkswagen has confirmed the production version of the ID. 2all will be available to European markets in 2025, but has not yet provided information on further global availability.
