Volkswagen has hit back at rumours that it has delayed the market launch of the ID 2 supermini, saying it remains on track for next year.
Widespread reports last week said that Volkswagen had taken the decision to push back the launch of the ID 2, after relaxed Euro 7 emissions rules meant it could continue selling similarly priced combustion cars like the Polo.
But now, the company has confirmed it will still be unveiled in 2025 ahead of a production ramp-up the following year, as was originally outlined when it revealed the near-ready ID2all concept last year.
"There was a rumour that we postponed the ID 2all to 2026, but that's not true. We are still working on the ID 2All over the same timeframe," said technical development boss Kai Grünitz.
"This is the 36-month [development] timeline that we changed to in early 2023. If you go back to last year when we revealed the ID 2all, we had worked for eight weeks on that project and you can see what came out."
According to VW's new development cycle, the supermini can be expected to launch in early 2026, after a reveal in mid-2025.
Clarification about the ID 2's gestation comes shortly after VW confirmed that future Volkswagen interiors will all draw inspiration from the ID 2all concept in bringing back physical buttons and controls.
The touchscreen-heavy approach taken for the Mk8 Golf and ID 3 has proven unpopular with customers, prompting a complete about-turn by the company in the way it approaches design. The new approach has already come to fruition with the facelifted version of the Golf, which drops its haptic steering wheel controls in favour of physical buttons.
VW interior designer Darius Watola said the ID2all concept “showed a new approach for all models” and was in response to “recent feedback from customers”.
VW CEO Thomas Schäfer recently claimed the touchscreen approach "did a lot of damage" to the brand.
The new interior has a row of physical (and backlit) buttons for the climate and a rotary controller on the centre tunnel to control the screen on the dashboard above, much like with BMW’s iDrive.
As well as a main central touchscreen for infotainment, there's also a screen for driving information. Watola said such a display in the driver’s eyeline is crucial for safety.
He said that “customers had a different view in Europe” than in other global markets and wanted “more physical buttons”.
There's also a revolution in terms of material use, as VW is looking to phase out hard plastics, glue, leather and chrome.
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Delivering the ID2 at a starting price of 22k in 2025 should be VW's highest priority if they have any dreams of getting their mojo back.
The new 'ID 1' will be broadly similar in size to the combustion-engined Polo.
Two polo sized ev superminis?
As others have said, the price and range seem very optimistic especially with the prices constantly rising and this not being due for a few years yet.
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