Volkswagen’s electric ID.4 SUV is destined to be a hit with a 311-mile range

Volkswagen has revealed the second all-electric model it will soon launch in its ID electric model line-up – and it should be an instant hit in the UK.

That’s because the ID.4 is a family-friendly SUV similar in size to Britain’s favourite in class, the Nissan Qashqai.

And it will be more than practical enough for the daily school run, shopping trips and other errands Britons are reliant on their cars to do, because VW says it will be capable of driving 311 miles on a full charge.

Ticking the right boxes: This is the forthcoming electric Volkswagen ID.4 – a spacious family SUV with a range of 311 miles between charges

This is the near-production version of the ID.4, which is close to the real thing we’ll see in showrooms later this year.

It was due to feature on the VW stand at the Geneva Motor Show this week, had the event not been cancelled by Swiss authorities over fears of the spread of coronavirus.

The German car maker has confirmed the ID.4 will be on sale later in 2020, with production in Europe, the US and China for each of the separate markets.

No prices have been confirmed or even hinted as yet, though with the ID.3 hatchback – which is around the same size as a VW Golf – priced from around £30,000, it’s certainly going to be a premium on top of that.

What we do know for sure is that the ID.4 will have a maximum range of 500km, which works out at 311 miles.

According to a recent poll by website DrivingElectric, one in three UK motorists in the market for an electric car said they a minimum expectation for their next vehicle to cover similar mileage between charges. 

The pre-production model has been revealed ahead of the official launch later this year

The pre-production model has been revealed ahead of the official launch later this year

Few details of the car have been released by VW, but from what we know it could be a big hit in the UK

Few details of the car have been released by VW, but from what we know it could be a big hit in the UK

Feedback from 250 drivers who already want to buy an electric car found that 37 per cent of the – fairly limited – sample wanted a 300-mile range to entice them to buy a pure EV, meaning the ID.4 should fit the bill.

And with SUV sales up another 12 per cent in 2019, the boxy VW could tick all the right boxes for the UK market.

VW has also confirmed it will initially be launched with rear-wheel drive only, though an all-wheel drive version will be added to the range at a later date.

Like the ID.3, the high-voltage battery will be positioned in the chassis for better weight distribution and to keep the centre of gravity low. 

This should also keep the cabin floor relatively flat and provide lots of interior space.

It will be similar in size to the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan

It will be similar in size to the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan

VW confirmed it will initially be launched with rear-wheel drive, though an all-wheel drive version will be added to the range at a later date

VW confirmed it will initially be launched with rear-wheel drive, though an all-wheel drive version will be added to the range at a later date

As for the cockpit, there will be a fully digital dashboard and instruments with touch pads to control functionality – as well as the latest version of VW’s own intuitive voice control.

Remaining details for performance and specification are being kept under wraps, though quite a lot about the design can be understood from the camouflaged bodywork.

For instance, it will retain the trademark daytime running lights of the ID family, with the LED headlights and an almost entirely enclosed grille similar to the smaller 3.

It will have a conventional hatched boot lid, while the charging port will be over the rear arch, like the fuel filler cap on a conventional VW SUV.  

Volkswagen said the ID.4 and ID.3 represent ‘important milestones in the brand’s bid to become entirely carbon-neutral by 2050’, which is in line with the Paris climate agreement. 

‘Plans have been put in place to reduce the Volkswagen fleet’s CO2-emissions by a third by as early as 2025,’ it said in an official statement. 

The VW ID.3 is due in UK showrooms in the summer, with the assembly line in full force at the production home in Zwickau, Germany

The VW ID.3 is due in UK showrooms in the summer, with the assembly line in full force at the production home in Zwickau, Germany

Newly-built ID.3 electric cars stand parked at the Volkswagen factory at the beginning of last month

Newly-built ID.3 electric cars stand parked at the Volkswagen factory at the beginning of last month

To keep the ID range styling familiar, the 4 shares a lot of the same design cues as the smaller 3 (pictured)
This includes the headlight cluster and blocked-out grille

To keep the ID range styling familiar, the 4 (right) shares a lot of the same design cues as the smaller 3 (left). This includes the headlight cluster and blocked-out grille

‘Volkswagen is currently investing one billion euro to electrify its model range while also offering an increasing number of hybrid vehicles,’ the German marque added.

‘This is based on the fact that, just like electric powertrains, new mild and plug-in hybrid drives in large-scale product lines such as the all-conquering Golf will significantly help to reduce fleet emissions in the future.’

With everything we know about the ID.4 so far, it’s likely to be a popular EV model for the increasing number of drivers looking to make the switch from internal combustion engined cars.

As previously reported, there is already plenty of interest in the ID.3 in the UK, with the 1,500 1st Edition examples made available to customers last year selling out to in 48 hours, according to one dealer.

When ID.4 does arrive, it will go head-to-head with the well-regarded Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro, both of which have claimed ranges in the region of 280 miles – though more realistic measurements show they are able to cover between 250 and 260 miles on a full charge under normal driving conditions.

Other rivals will be the Tesla Model X and forthcoming Model Y – though these are likely to be significantly more expensive than the Volkswagen.

SAVE MONEY ON MOTORING

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Source link