Automakers need to sell cheaper electric vehicles if they want to put more people behind the wheel of EVs. Volkswagen intends to address the lack of models at the lower end with two new entries: ID.2 and ID.1. The ID.2all concept has previewed the former and will cost less than €25,000 ($26,700) in production guise. The latter, debuting today also as a concept, will carry a starting price of about €20,000 ($21,300) when it hits the assembly line.
The ID. Every1 is a window into the near future of an indirect replacement for the e-up!, which Wolfsburg phased out back in 2023. It’s substantially bigger than the diminutive electric hatchback, however. The new concept measures 152.7 inches (3880 millimeters) from front to back, making it 11 inches (280 millimeters) longer than the defunct e-up! It’s still 6.7 inches (170 millimeters) shorter than the ID2.all we mentioned earlier. At 58.6 inches (1490 millimeters) tall and 71.4 inches (1816 millimeters) wide, the new concept is slightly lower and narrower compared to the ID.2.
Photo by: Volkswagen
Although it’s a concept, we’re not expecting any major changes for the production model. The final version will have front and rear wipers, bigger mirrors, parking sensors, and whatnot. There’s some first-generation Golf design DNA baked into the ID. Every1. The flat beltline harkens back to Giorgetto Giugiaro’s classic Mk1, while the black surround of the rear gloss takes after the original GTI hot hatch from 1976.
Even though this is a tiny car, the 19-inch wheels don’t necessarily look overkill. We’re hoping a smaller set will be offered for those prioritizing ride comfort and extra range over a sportier look. In the age of cost cutting, especially at the VW Group, we’ll have to wait and see whether the production model will have charging ports on both front fenders.
Photo by: Volkswagen
The interior aims to deliver as much room as the gas-fueled Polo supermini, made possible by the superior packaging only an electric car riding on a dedicated platform can provide. Four people can fit inside, while the luggage compartment measures 10.7 cubic feet (305 liters), more than decent for a car in this segment.
One thing that has us worried is the infotainment system dominating the dashboard. Not the large touchscreen itself, but the “brains” behind it. VW says the ID.1 will be the Group’s first production model to utilize a new software architecture. Given the issues some of the VAG products have had in recent years, we wouldn’t necessarily want to be among early adopters.
Then there’s this statement about the car being equipped with “new functions throughout its entire life cycle if its users so wish.” Reading between the lines, it suggests that the ID.1 will be offered with subscriptions to unlock functions that are otherwise blocked behind a paywall. On a more positive note, we’re glad VW is still going to install a separate, albeit small, instrument cluster. A few shortcut keys are noticeable below the big screen, along with proper buttons on the two-spoke steering wheel.
If you’re wondering about the box between the front seats, it’s a removable Bluetooth speaker. Another neat feature is the center console, which slides front and rear by sitting on a rail, similar to what you’ll find in the much larger ID. Buzz minivan. The passenger side of the dashboard also contains a rail to which you can attach a tablet or a shelf that doubles as a table.
The ID.1 will be based on the same front-wheel-drive MEB platform as its bigger brother, the ID.2. The concept’s single motor mounted at the front axle produces a modest 94 horsepower, enough for a top speed of 81 mph (130 km/h). Although the battery size isn’t mentioned, VW promises a minimum driving range of 155 miles (250 kilometers).
VW plans to launch the ID.2 next year and the ID.1 in 2027. The bigger of the two electric cars will spawn a GTI derivative and a crossover-like ID.2X. The performance model has already been previewed by the ID. GTI concept, while the rugged version will break cover this September at the 2025 IAA Mobility Show in Munich.
Stay Up To Speed With VW:
Volkswagen Built Another SUV
Volkswagen Puts New Engine In China’s Next-Gen Atlas
Source: Volkswagen
