Volkswagen Says ID Hatchback Will Look Like the Concept - Which Looks Like the Future

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

While the electric revival of the Microbus is the star of Volkswagen’s ID sub-brand, we shouldn’t ignore the importance of the upcoming ID hatchback. On track to enter production next year, the Golf-sized hatchback boasts pretty impressive specs for an battery electric vehicle. It won’t be the fastest or most-exciting EV on the market, but VW claims it will be capable of 250 to 375 miles of electric range and offered at an attractive price.

It’s an EV for the masses and should serve as the tip of the spear for Volkswagen’s electric offensive, along with the Crozz crossover. However, the automaker says mass-market appeal doesn’t have to include mass-market styling. The production version of the ID Hatchback should look like the futuristic concept.

“The proportions, the design cues and the wheel size are the same as the concept. It looks like the show car,” VW’s design head, Klaus Bischoff, told Autocar. “We couldn’t do the camera-system rear-view mirrors for legal reasons, nor the electric door handles due to cost. But other than that, it’s pretty much the same.”

That’s a little difficult to believe, as the rear-drive electric’s wheels are absolutely massive and the suspension looks to have about 2 millimeters of travel.

While it’s impressive that Volkswagen wants to adhere to the concept’s styling, there is no way the consumer model will have the same ground clearance, wild interior (with fully collapsible steering wheel), or color-changing headlamps.

However, the point isn’t so much that the production vehicle will look identical to the concept. It’s that the new hatchback will sets the visual tone and prove that the ID fleet is entirely separate from Volkswagen’s main stable — which sounds like the opposite of what Mercedes-Benz is doing with its EQ cars.

“We had the unique chance to lead Volkswagen into a new age,” Bischoff explained. “Electric drive provides greater freedom for designers. We minimise the cooling holes; the axes move further apart and generate stunning proportions.”

So far as we know, the ID Hatchback will keep its projected range (though the EPA will rate it lower than the claimed maximum of 373 miles) and use a 163 horsepower motor capable of getting the car up to 60 mph in just under 8 seconds. Top speed will be electronically limited to 99 mph.

How many battery configurations Volkswagen plans to offer at launch is unknown. We know it’s supposed to have longer- and shorter-range configurations, but specs haven’t been announced. Production will take place at an existing factory, as the car uses existing unibody construction techniques and is comprised primarily of steel, aluminum, and magnesium — like any normal car.

[Images: Volkswagen Group]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Master Baiter Master Baiter on May 24, 2018

    I guess the future is a Nissan Leaf. . .

  • Vehic1 Vehic1 on May 24, 2018

    truckducken: Most of the "famed VW unreliability" is due to the never-ending de-fame-ation from you fanboys of other makers. The various yearly reliability ratings show up-and-down movement every year - and even St. Toyota is not always at the very top, much less Chevy, Hyundai, or Subaru. To the confirmed crankosaurus, nothing VW does could ever, possibly be good enough. Well, VW sales are up; read it and weep.

  • Mebgardner I test drove a 2023 2.5 Rav4 last year. I passed on it because it was a very noisy interior, and handled poorly on uneven pavement (filled potholes), which Tucson has many. Very little acoustic padding mean you talk loudly above 55 mph. The forums were also talking about how the roof leaks from not properly sealed roof rack holes, and door windows leaking into the lower door interior. I did not stick around to find out if all that was true. No talk about engine troubles though, this is new info to me.
  • Dave Holzman '08 Civic (stick) that I bought used 1/31/12 with 35k on the clock. Now at 159k.It runs as nicely as it did when I bought it. I love the feel of the car. The most expensive replacement was the AC compressor, I think, but something to do with the AC that went at 80k and cost $1300 to replace. It's had more stuff replaced than I expected, but not enough to make me want to ditch a car that I truly enjoy driving.
  • ToolGuy Let's review: I am a poor unsuccessful loser. Any car company which introduced an EV which I could afford would earn my contempt. Of course I would buy it, but I wouldn't respect them. 😉
  • ToolGuy Correct answer is the one that isn't a Honda.
  • 1995 SC Man it isn't even the weekend yet
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