Late next year, the long-awaited Volkswagen ID hatchback will be revealed before reaching global markets in 2020. If this review of an early prototype is anything to go by, Tesla should be taking the threat of the ID very seriously.
During a recent round of testing of the all-electric hatchback near Cape Town in South Africa, the Fully Charged channel on YouTube was invited for an early drive of the vehicle.
Despite development of the vehicle still in its preliminary stages, it was immediately apparent to the reviewer that the ID will be an excellent car when it hits the market. Even as a prototype, they found it “absolutely, annoyingly amazing.”
The base model is expected to arrive with a battery pack offering around 206 miles (331 km) of range and a price roughly the same as a current-generation Golf diesel. High-end models will enjoy larger battery packs, including one with a very impressive range of 342 miles (550 km) according to the new, stricter WLTP standards.
The ID hatchback, which might be named the Neo, will also offer support for 125 kW fast charging, which will enable it to charge its battery to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes.
VW’s EV will rival the likes of the Tesla Model 3, BMW i3, and upcoming long-range Nissan Leaf. Customers will be able to pre-order the car from spring 2019.