Volkswagen's hugely significant new ID 3 electric hatch will be launched this evening (Monday), before going on display at the Frankfurt motor show.
The firm's first bespoke EV will be uveiled alongside a major revamp of the Volkswagen brand, and signifies a major step towards the firm's ambitious plans to sell a millions electric cars per year by 2025.
Here it is: Volkswagen has unveiled the ID 3 at the Frankfurt motor show
Prior to the launch, the ID 3 was recently testing in a German suburb, this time with a more revealing disguise.
The images show the ID 3 without the disorientating patterned wrap it has been pictured in, with only small details like the badging and lighting is subtly covered up.
Recently the firm revealed charging and battery details of the ID 3 ahead of production getting under way later this year.
The ID 3's lithium-ion cells have been designed to allow for a charging capacity of up to 125kW, which puts it ahead of every other mainstream electric car currently on sale. Only premium EVs including the Audi E-tron and Tesla Model X can charge faster.
Read our first drive of the Volkswagen ID3 here
Volkswagen guarantees the batteries will retain "at least 70%" of their usable capacity after eight years or 100,000 miles of use.
As part of the company's roll-out of its new ID electric vehicles, a new range of domestic charging points has been designed to allow owners to fully charge their cars overnight or during a working day.
The new wall boxes work with charging capacities of up to 11kW (AC), allowing faster charge times than a conventional 230-volt power supply. A fast-charge point would give the ID 3 roughly 162 miles of range in half an hour.
The 261-mile battery utilised in the ID 3 First will be the middle of three battery sizes offered in the ID 3 range, which Volkswagen believes will be the most popular. The £25,500 entry-level version will offer a range of 205 miles, with the largest battery allowing for 342 miles. It is understood the three batteries will be 45, 58 and 77kWh respectively.
The company says it has received pre-orders for more than half of the launch edition versions of its Renault Zoe rival.
Customers in 29 European countries have been able to pay a deposit to pre-book one of the 30,000 examples of the ID 3 First models, which will feature a WLTP-certified range of 261 miles and will be priced at less than €40,000 (£34,000) in Germany. Deliveries are due to begin in April 2020.
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125kW?
The Model 3 can charge at 250kW at the newer Superchargers.
Meh.....
Despite all the figures, facts, speculation and whether or not electric cars are indeed good for the environment compared to ICE cars, the bottom line is that it is not economically sensible for me to spend such a HUGE amount of money on a car like this.
If that makes it sound like I value money over the environment then I'd rather buy a bike to use for my commute (as dangerous and inconvenient as that is) than spend a fortune on an electric car.
PS - interesting quote from the article, especially when put in contrast to most reporting from the media in recent times: "The UK is one of the "key" markets for the car".....kind of sounds like some European companies are going to be crossing everything for a BREXIT deal too........so over to the EU to get negotiating again.
Judging by these pictures I
Andrew1 wrote:
You're right. Packaging looks significantly worse than the original A class.