New Volkswagen ID.3: a revolution among electric cars

Volkswagen unveils the ID.3 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the first model of its ID family, which could revolutionise the electric car segment.

It is called Volkswagen ID.3, but it is not the third, rather the first of the new electric vehicle family from Volkswagen, the ID. It has finally been unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show, after weeks of advertising campaigns announcing its arrival, during which we had until now only ever seen it camouflaged.

Well, here is the new VW ID.3. And it seems to deliver on what it promised from the start, and which has led it to accumulate more than 20,000 reservations in a very short time since orders opened, recently reaching 30,000 reservations for the launch version, the ID.2 First Edition, priced at around 40,000 euros.

The best solution for an electric car

Volkswagen has opted for what seems to be one of the most suitable solutions for an “all-purpose” electric car: a body with the almost MPV-like lines of a tall hatchback. Even so, its lines are fluid and very dynamic, as this is not a tall car. It does not need to be, with the modular electric platform that many other models in the group will use, in which the batteries sit flat under the floor.

Now, on top of everything we already knew about the ID.3, we can add a full image gallery, which hints at a car with a very modern design without being too futuristic. It could easily be a combustion-engined car, were it not for that grille-less front panel with no need for a ventilation grille.

There is clearly special attention paid to aerodynamics. The length reaches 4.26 metres, and the 200 CV electric motor with 310 Nm of torque sits on the rear axle.

The interior stands out for its very simple and fully digital design, as well as offering a generous space for up to five occupants, with a boot that reaches 385 litres of capacity. Operation of all systems is mainly touch-based, through the 15-inch central screen; there are hardly any buttons apart from those on the multifunction steering wheel, and it also features an advanced voice control system.

Three battery types and different charging solutions

Volkswagen announces up to three battery variants for the ID.3. The base version, with 45 kWh, offers a range of 330 km on the WLTP cycle. The next step up increases the range to 420 km with the 58 kWh battery. Above that, the largest-capacity battery reaches 77 kWh and allows up to 550 km on a single charge.

All batteries are lithium-ion and feature liquid cooling. Among the various charging systems, the ID.3 supports fast charging at up to 125 kW. However, the most common solution will be the wallbox for home use with 11 kW charging, which would allow the largest-capacity battery to be charged to 80% in around six hours. A 22 kW fast-charging system will also be available as an option.

The Volkswagen ID.3 will arrive on the market during the first months of 2020. For the time being, prices for the Spanish market are not known, but Volkswagen has announced it will be available in Germany at a price below 30,000 euros in the lower-capacity battery version.

Currently, its most direct rival is the Nissan Leaf, and the production version of the Seat e-Born, with which the ID.3 shares its platform and motor, will soon arrive.

Image gallery Volkswagen ID.3