Upcoming renewal of the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 for next year

In an interview with the media, Kai Grünitz, Head of Technical Development at Volkswagen, gave us a great headline. The German manufacturer is already working on a significant renewal of its ID.3 and ID.4 electric models, which will hit the roads in 2026. This update will be the second major revision since their launch, and it seems it will follow the design direction that the new ID.2 will debut, the new city model of Volkswagen’s ID. family that will reach the market a few months earlier, around the second quarter of 2026.

The renewed ID.3 and ID.4 will adopt the improved MEB+ platform, which promises important technical advances. This evolution of Volkswagen’s platform will allow lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs to be used in the base versions of both models for the first time. A novelty that is essential for reducing costs and thus being able to market more affordable vehicles.

Additionally, the APP310 electric motor will be replaced by a more efficient powertrain, similar to the APP550, which will improve the range of both models. The ID.4 will also feature a higher-capacity battery pack in one of its versions on sale.

Less digital and more analogue

As for design, the changes will not be limited to the exterior. Volkswagen plans to renew the interior of both models, introducing a new dashboard and an improved user interface. Responding to customer demands, the brand will remove some digital controls and the controversial touch sliders, once again incorporating physical buttons for functions such as volume control, with the aim of offering a more intuitive and practical experience.

The launch of the ID.2 will mark the debut of the MEB Entry platform, a more compact version of MEB+ designed for front-wheel-drive vehicles, while the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.7 will keep rear-wheel drive. This strategy will allow Volkswagen to keep its electric range up to date until the arrival of the SSP platform, whose launch has been delayed and is scheduled for 2028.

It should also be noted that, despite rumours last year suggesting a reduction in the company’s investment in developing the MEB+ platform, the German manufacturer remains committed to making it a reality in 2026, coinciding with the launch of the new ID.3 and ID.4. According to the company itself, the MEB+ platform is a multi-million investment aimed at maintaining the competitiveness of Volkswagen’s electric models in the market in the coming years.