► Revealed in Munich
► First front-wheel drive MEB car
► Previews 2025 ID.2
Volkswagen has just revealed the ID. Life, a concept-shaped addition to its ID range that previews a compact city car expected in 2025. Shown in Munich today, it introduces the small version of the group’s highly flexible MEB electric platform, and VW says the car it previews – likely to be called the ID.2 – will cost just 20,000 Euros.
Volkswagen electric cars: what you need to know
Unlike the rear-drive ID.3 and ID.4 SUV, the concept is front-wheel-drive. The ID.Life has a 57kWh battery, and a 124kW motor to do 0-62mph in just 6.9 seconds – and it keeps going for 248 miles.
Elsewhere, the ID. Life shows off less production ready ideas. Bits of its pared-down, Honda E-esque design have a good chance of making it to production come 2025, but other areas of the interior – such as the Tesla-style aeronautical steering wheel, do not.
The ID. Life also moves things on from a sustainability side, with the roof and air chamber teting all being made from recycled plastic bottles. Bio-oil, natural rubber and rice husks make up the the tyres.
Like the Honda E, the ID. Life also features a clean, open interior and gives passengers a 230V plug. The VW also adds a foldable front seat bench to allow for more configurations. It’s hard to see that making it to the 2025 car, too.
‘The ID. Life is our vision of next-generation fully electric urban mobility,’ said CEO Ralf Brandstätter. ‘The concept car provides a preview of an ID. model in the small car segment that we will be launching in 2025, priced at around 20,000 euros. This means we are making electric mobility accessible to even more people.’
By 2030, VW wants 70% of all vehicles sold in the EU to be EV, and that reasonable price tag may just do that.