German automaker Volkswagen on Wednesday unveiled its latest all-electric SUV called the ID.4 that is aimed at taking the electric fever to the mainstream.
Despite all the potential benefits of electric vehicles, costs and lack of choice or availability often prevent many car buyers from shifting to electric with just over 1 percent of new sales in according to Volkswagen.
The ID.4 electric SUV has ample battery range and recharging capability for everyday use as they are provided with three years of charging at Electrify America public chargers at no additional cost.
The all-electric model ID.4 is currently manufactured at the Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant with a net carbon-neutral balance. Its current design has space, utility, and technology in mind that compact SUV buyers want at a price that’s fully competitive in its current segment.
“The ID.4 was engineered, loaded and priced to win the hearts of SUV owners who are simply ready to go electric—and fall in love with Volkswagen again,” said Scott Keogh, chief executive officer of the Volkswagen Group of America.
“It drives like a GTI, it has the packaging of a Tiguan and the purpose of the Beetle. All the best things about VW in one package,” Keogh said.
What are some of the features of the Volkswagen ID.4 model?
The ID.4 which can be reserved starting September 23 comes with a special 1st Edition model, featuring a 201-hp motor powering the rear wheels – just like the original Beetle. The ID.4 1st Edition, with an 82-kWh battery pack, has a preliminary manufacturer-estimated range of 250 miles based on the EPA test cycle2, a little bit less than what the average American drives in a week.
A full recharge from a typical Level 2 outlet, like those commonly installed at home or in public parking, will take around 7 ½ hours; the 11 kW onboard charger adds about 33 miles of range per hour of Level 2 charging.
Using public DC fast chargers typically found at highway rest stops, the ID.4 can go from 5 to 80 percent charge in about 40 minutes.
Buyers of the 2021 ID.4 will get three years of unlimited charging on the Electrify America network at no additional cost, covering more than 470 charging stations and over 2,000 public DC fast chargers nationwide.
Future Volkswagen ID.4 releases
Next year, the ID.4 will add an all-wheel-drive version with an electric motor on the front axle and total power of 302 hp.
Volkswagen will begin assembling the ID.4 in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2022 and plans on offering a localized version of the ID.4 with an anticipated retail price of around $35,000.
In its press statement, Volkswagen said the ID.4 is another step toward the Volkswagen Group’s global goal to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement combatting global warming by making its business and its vehicles carbon neutral by 2050. According to experts, such goals can’t be met without widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and the ID.4 demonstrates how Volkswagen plans to make EVs for the real world.
The ID.4 all-electric model is the first vehicle for America built off the Volkswagen MEB platform, designed exclusively for electric vehicles.
The MEB platform gives the ID.4 agile handling, with the battery pack on the floor and even front/rear weight balance. And when you hit the accelerator, the ID.4 produces 228 lb.-ft. of torque instantly, giving it great off-the-line performance.
The design of the ID.4 combines a futuristic, aerodynamic look with some classic Volkswagen touches. The Volkswagen logo sits in the center, as it did on the Beetle’s hood; unlike the Beetle, the logo can come as an LED lighted option.
The LED headlights, taillights, and an optional front-illuminated light line and Volkswagen logo create a new, distinct signature, while the cleanly formed bodywork gives the ID.4 a strong visual presence, along with a low drag coefficient of 0.28.
The ID.4 comes in one of six colors, with a 19-inch alloy wheels standard. The two available packages – Statement and Gradient – add upgrades such as a panoramic fixed-glass roof, power-folding side mirrors, and 20-inch wheels.
On the inside, the ID.4 also offers the most advanced interior of any Volkswagen models.
Prices for the ID.4 start at around $40,000 for the ID.4 Pro rear-wheel-drive model scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2021.
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