VW

Volkswagen's biggest offensive in history

Volkswagen is preparing for one of the most extensive production offensives in its 87-year history. In the next three years, they plan to launch as many as 10 new electric and internal combustion engine models, completely reshaping their core offering. Against the backdrop of slowing sales, deep cost cuts and workforce layoffs, the goal is to return the German company to its former glory, profitability and global competitiveness, writes Autocar.

At the heart of this renewed campaign are the ID.1, ID.2 and ID.2X, new front-wheel drive electric cars, conceived as spiritual successors to the Up, Polo and T-Cross models. Along with this trio, the German company will seek to launch other electric cars, such as the electric Golf, but also to upgrade its current offer of best-selling models with classic engines.

According to Index.hr, Volkswagen believes that the ID.1 is probably the most important of all the new products, especially in the context of the mass acceptance of electric vehicles. Introduced as the ID Every1 concept, the model was called “the final piece of the puzzle” in the company’s electric transformation by CEO Thomas Schäfer. “This is the car the world has been waiting for,” he said at its unveiling in March.

The production ID.1 is due to hit the road in 2027 at a price of around 20,000 euros, positioning itself as a competitor to the cheapest electric vehicles such as the Dacia Spring. The key to the low price lies in the MEB Entry platform, optimized for compact electric models, which will be used first by the ID.2.

The ID.1 will be powered by a newly developed 94 hp front-mounted electric motor, with a targeted top speed of 130 km/h and a range of at least 250 km from a 38 kWh LFP battery. It will also be the first VW model to feature a completely new software architecture developed in partnership with American Rivian.

VW design chief Andreas Mindt stressed that the ID.1’s design should project warmth and accessibility. “We wanted to give it a friendly face – something that makes you smile even before you get in,” he told Autocar. “That slightly cheeky expression at the front is intentional. It’s a car with character, not just a functional object.”

The ID.1 is preceded by the slightly larger ID.2, the first car on the new MEB Entry platform. It will lead the charge into affordable electric vehicles, and goes on sale early next year. It will form the basis for a new family of electric city cars from the Volkswagen Group, which will include the larger ID.2X, the Cupra Raval and the Skoda Epiq. The aim is to offer cars priced under €25,000 to compete with models like the Peugeot e-208.

Engine power for the ID.2 will range from 158 hp to 187 hp, while the sporty GTI version will deliver around 223 hp. It will offer a range of up to 450 km with a 56 kWh battery. A year after the hatchback, the raised ID.2X will go on sale, with a more robust design and higher ground clearance.

In addition to the new models, Volkswagen will also significantly update its existing range. This will start next year with two of its best-selling electric vehicles: the ID.3 and ID.4. They are expected to undergo a comprehensive change inside and out to align with the new design language. The redesigned ID.3 is due to be unveiled in the second quarter of next year, with the ID.4 arriving later in 2026.

Schäfer described the new ID.4 as a “really beautiful” car and a “huge step forward”. It is being called the electric Tiguan internally, suggesting a possible name merger. At the same time, Volkswagen has decided to withdraw the ID.5 model from its range from 2027 due to weak sales, as part of an effort to simplify the range and focus on high-volume models.

One of the most important years for VW’s electric vehicle sales growth will be 2028, when its most famous model, the Golf, will finally go fully electric. It is being developed in Germany and will be the first model on the new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). It will use an 800-volt architecture, which will allow for more advanced battery technology and faster charging. The electric Golf is being developed alongside an electric version of the T-Roc, both of which will be built at the Wolfsburg plant.

Despite its strong focus on electric vehicles, VW will also continue to sell models with internal combustion engines. This strategy reflects a slower transition to electric vehicles than expected. The second-generation T-Roc with conventional engines will be launched this year.

With it, VW will also introduce a full hybrid drive for the first time, similar to that in the Toyota Prius. This system combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a battery, allowing electric driving without the need for external charging. This technology will also be available on other models such as the Golf and Tiguan, extending their lifespan until at least 2033.

VW has invested 60 billion euros in the further development of internal combustion models by the end of 2028.

Autonews

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