According to sources inside Volkswagen, the company is reviewing its stance on mass-producing a cheap electric car based on the ID.Life Concept (seen here). The plan is to alter the concept and produce a more normal-looking hatchback based on it, possibly with the Golf nameplate.
If true, we should hear the announcement as early as the next month. Apparently, Volkswagen executives were not convinced that the ID.Life had an appealing enough design for production. The new idea is to redesign it with traditional hot hatch looks and make it the brand’s most affordable EV on the market starting just above €20,000.
Earlier rumors had claimed that the company was going to put the ‘Golf EV’ facelift on its ID.3 model. We are now told that the management felt like the iconic nameplate belonged to a more compact car. Going forward, VW may also ditch the GTX flagship badge, leaving just the GTI around.
Along with this new hatchback, which is allegedly known under the provisional designation ‘ID.2’, VW plans to introduce a brand-new version of its MEB platform. It comes with new battery tech on board and faster charging. The maximum car length supported is only 4,250 mm (166 inches), but a smart interior layout should make the cars feel as roomy as some of the upmarket models.
The first Golf EV to reach the market will reportedly have only one electric motor, with the two-motor/AWD variants set to follow later on. One of those flagship specs might get the GTI badge mentioned above.
The insider said the starting price target was €20,500.