First Look At VW's Smallest EV; India Launch Possible
Volkswagen has revealed a new all-electric concept for the European market, called the ID.Every1. As implied by the name, the production form will be an A-segment city car priced on the affordable side of things. It will also form the entry point to Volkswagen's ID range. Furthermore, many see this as a spiritual successor to the VW Up hatchback.
Volkswagen ID.Every1: What Is It?
Volkswagen says that the ID.Every1 is a model 'from Europe, for Europe'. In the past, we have seen many 'small cars' or ' people's cars'. It is interesting to see that the ID.Every1 has been revealed five years after VW stopped the production of the iconic Beetle.
VW boss Thomas Schäfer describes the ID.Every1 as "the last piece of the puzzle” in its mass-market EV lineup. "This is the car the world has been waiting for" he adds.
The production version will be underpinned by a modified version of the MEB Entry platform. This is VW's new front-wheel-drive architecture, that would also be used on the forthcoming ID 2, ID 2X, Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq. These models will be manufactured at the Seat factory in Martorell, Spain. The ID.2 prices are known to start at around £21,000.
Design
What you see here is a near-production-ready concept. It has slightly upright and good-looking proportions and signature Volkswagen design cues. As the design boss says, the idea was to create a design with "character and an identity that people can relate to”.
You will instantly notice the large LED headlifghts and the rounded front end. The front and rear VW badges are illuminated, like most other electric vehicles. The concept has chunky wheel arches and 19-inch wheels.
The MEB platform has allowed Volkswagen to push the wheels to the extreme ends and generate ample room inside. The side view is simple and likeable. The design has several nods to Volkswagen's rich heritage. You will be reminded of the first-generation VW Golf when you see it.
In dimensions, the electric hatchback is 3880 mm long. It is thus larger than the Up nd smaller than the Polo. It will have a boot capacity of 305-litres. The Up used to have just 251 litres, and the EV will thus be more capacious.
Interior And Features
The cabin is simple and practical. The dashboard has a striking design, with a large central touchscreen and physical controls for temperature and other basic controls. The steering is a squared-off two-spoke unit.
The front passenger has access to a variable multi-purpose panel. There is even a removable Bluetooth speaker between the driver and passenger. The centre console will resemble the one seen in the ID.Buzz.
The ID.Every1 will be the first Volkswagen EV to offer to use a “fundamentally new” zonal software architecture developed in association with Rivian.
Powertrain Specifications
VW's development chief Kai Grünitz says that the front end- from the front wheel to the A-pillar- resembles that of the ID 2all concept. It, however, has a smaller battery and shorter wheelbase. The rear axle is new and is essentially based on the one used in the outgoing Polo.
The production form will have an all-new electric motor, capable of producing 94 bhp. The claimed top-speed will be 130 kph. Battery pack details are yet to surface. The EV is expected to deliver a range of “at least” 250 kilometres.
India Launch Possible?
We have had no word yet from Volkswagen about a possible India launch of the ID. Every1 hatchback. With the EV landscape fast evolving, it could make sense for Volkswagen to launch this EV here, if it manages to price it competitively. Getting the price right will not be easy for VW India. The carmaker will need to incorporate high degrees of localisation for this. It remains to be seen how or if the manufacturer would do the same...