Scheduled for 2026, Volkswagen’s future electric city car, currently known as ID.2, reveals new information. It could then take the name of ID Golf and come in a sports version badged GTI. It is therefore not excluded that the original compact disappears to give way to this newcomer.
While the European Union has voted once again in favor of banning thermal cars in Europe in 2035, manufacturers will have to develop their electric offer. At Volkswagen, which already has a full range, with its ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID. buzz. So much so that the Wolfsburg firm has become the group that has sold the most electric cars in Europe, then ahead of Tesla in 2022.
An electric replacement?
But the manufacturer does not want to rest on its achievements. Thus, he plans to launch new versions of his ID. Buzz, including a sportier one and another with seven seats. An ID.3 SUV is also in the cards, as well as two city cars, called ID.1 and ID.2 playing the entry-level role.
So little information has been revealed about them, now the brand is starting to be a little more talkative. The journalists of the British site Coach were indeed able to speak with sources internal to the manufacturer, who wished to remain anonymous. These confirm first of all that the future ID.2 will be the brand’s first car to be based on the new MEB Plus platform, which will also equip the raised ID 3.
Strange information, since we were convinced that the future Volkswagen ID.7, which arrives in 2023 on the European market, would be based on the MEB Plus platform (also called MEB Evo), just like the future restyled ID.3. Information that remains rumors.
As a reminder, this development will offer a particular increase in autonomy, which can then reach 700 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle. The charging power would be increased to 200 kW against 170 kW currently. But this is not the only thing we learn about this future arrival in the range. Indeed, the English site reveals to us thatit could finally not bear the name of ID.2.
Still according to sources working for the manufacturer, several proposals have been made regarding its name. So, the city car may be called ID Golf. A proposal that had already been mentioned by the boss of the brand, Thomas Schäfer in a previous interview. He then explained that the surname Golf ” has enormous value ” and ” changing the name to something completely different doesn’t make senses”. Some kind of confirmation? Without a doubt…
A GTI version in the boxes
If the rumors evoked the choice of this name for the restyled ID.3, an internal source affirms that ” the real value of the Volkswagen Golf lies in a car the size of the ID 2“. But then, does that mean that the original compact could end up disappearing in order to leave its place for this electric newcomer ? For now, nothing has been said yet, but that cannot be ruled out.
Indeed, the brand’s sales director, Klaus Zellmer said in an interview with the Bavarian daily Munchner Merkur that Volkswagen will leave ” the combustion engine vehicle market between 2033 and 2035” . The Golf will then be logically concerned and should therefore say goodbye, but the manufacturer may therefore not want to make this mythical name, born in 1974, disappear.
Thus, this future ID.2 or ID Golf would be between the Polo and the thermal compact, with a length of about 4.25 meters. On board, the presentation should be reworked, while we should discover a brand new infotainment system, while Volkswagen has promised to make it more practical and easy to use. A statement that followed the mea-culpa regarding the touch buttons on the steering wheelwhich the brand does not ultimately consider to be a good idea.
Furthermore, Autocar tells us thata GTI version will also be offered. This is not an error, because a source explains that the GTX badge, attached to the names of ID.4 and ID.5 should disappear in favor of the historical acronym. If no technical information has been given on this version, it could then be strongly inspired by the Cupra Urban Rebel concept unveiled last year, displaying 226 horsepower and achieving 0 to 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds. This newcomer, which should be around 25,000 euros, could then compete with the future Tesla Model 2, which should be announced on March 1 during Investor Day.
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