Half-heartedly confirmed by the brand’s boss last December, the arrival of an SUV version of the Volkswagen ID.3 is slowly starting to take shape. The German manufacturer’s electric car would then be assembled in Germany as well as in the United States.
Volkswagen has been offering electric models in its catalog for quite some time now, and we are of course thinking of the e-Up!, launched in 2011. But since then, the range has been greatly expanded, with the arrival in 2019 of the ID.3, the first model in the ID family. The electric compact, rival of the Renault Mégane E-Tech and the MG4, was quickly supported by the ID.4 and ID.5, followed by the brand new ID. Buzz marketed recently. But the firm obviously does not intend to stop there, while the European Union wants to ban the sale of thermal cars in 2035.
A new version
Thus, the manufacturer plans to launch no less than ten electric models by 2026, including the ID.1 and ID.2, which will have their replicas at Audi and Skoda, in particular. But that’s not all, because a third car would also be in preparation, even if the mark does not communicate much about it for the moment. This is an SUV version of the ID.3, half-confirmed via a LinkedIn post from Thomas Schäfer, current Volkswagen boss
Last December, a communicated published by the manufacturer also evoked the arrival ” of a fully electric SUV ” whose production would then begin in 2023. This one ” will perfectly complement the ID.4 and ID.5 offer, very popular models“. But no additional details were then given about this new vehicle which is already so much talked about.
If this new version has then no longer been talked about, now it is back on the front of the stage. Indeed, the German site Handelsblatt evokes in its columns the arrival of a brand new electric SUV, which will be located under the Volkswagen ID.4 in the lineup. It will then be assembled in the United States, within the Chattanooga plant, located in Tennessee. It could also be manufactured at the Puebla, Mexico site.
The information would have been confirmed by a spokesperson for the brand, who did not wish to give additional details on the subject for the moment. The choice of an assembly in North America is more than consistent for the brand, while the United States government has decided to no longer grant a tax credit only to electric cars produced on site. A measure also considered by the French government to promote European cars.
Great autonomy
Furthermore, thehe German brand is considering building a brand new battery factory in Canada, and more specifically in Ontario. However, this should only supply American production. In Europe, it is the Salzgitter site, located in Germany and just inaugurated, which will produce the batteries for the versions sold here. The cars will then be assembled at the historic factory in Wolfsburg, alongside the standard ID.3.
For the time being, we still know very little about this newcomer to the range, which will take over the MEB+ platform of the future restyled ID.3. This will then allow faster recharging, with a maximum power oscillating between 175 and 200 kW. This is still little compared to the capacities of the new terminals, including those of Fastned and Circontrol, which can deliver up to 400 kW. Not to mention the 500 kW of Nio.
On the other hand, the ID.3 and its SUV version will retain a 400 volt architecture and not 800 volts, unlike the Kia EV6 and other Hyundai Ioniq 5. This would have made recharging even faster. It will then take between 25 and 30 minutes, which remains in the high average. The battery capacity could vary between 90 to 111 kWh depending on the carfor a range that could reach 700 kilometers.
The ID.3 SUV, however, should not benefit from such a high autonomy, unlike the ID.7. This has already been unveiled in the form of a camouflaged prototype at the last CES in Las Vegas. Several versions of the ID. Buzz are also on the program, as well as an electric sedan based on the highly anticipated SSP platform. However, this should not see the light of day before 2030.
- To read : Volkswagen “confirms” the ID.3 SUV: 700 km range and faster charging?
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