Revealed: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

It’s been talked about and teased, and now it’s finally here. Volkswagen took the wraps off the 2021 ID.4 electric vehicle in one of the now-ubiquitous live-streamed reveals.

You can even buy yours today if you like what you see. Reservations are open.

The sticker for the Pro trim level is $39,995 (unclear if that includes D and D) before the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. VW is touting a 250-mile range for the 1st Edition trim.

The compact crossover will launch first with a 201-horsepower, 82 kWh setup, and rear-wheel drive. An all-wheel-drive configuration with 302 horsepower and 82 kWh will come later.

Buyers will get three years of fast charging via Electrify America at no cost. The ID.4 will be built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, starting in 2022, and the base price will eventually be around $35,000.

“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, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, in a statement. “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.”

The ID.4 uses VW’s modular electric drive architecture (MEB) platform, and the electric motor is located at the rear.

The battery pack has 288 cells in 12 modules, and it’s placed in the underbody to keep the center of gravity low. It’s set in an aluminum housing that’s bolted to the frame.

The rear motor is AC permanent-synchronous and in addition to the 201 horsepower it puts out 228 lb-ft of torque.

While the motor is AC, both AC and DC fast chargers will work. An 11 kW onboard charger helps the ID.4 pickup 33 miles worth of charge in an hour, and full charge will take about seven and a half hours on a level 2 charger. Find a DC fast charger with 125 kW, and you can get from about five percent to about percent charge in around 38 minutes.

The chassis and body are steel, and the front suspension is a strut-type with lower control arms. It also has coil springs, telescopic dampers, and an anti-roll bar. At rear is a multi-link rear axle with coil springs as well as telescopic dampers and an anti-roll bar. VW is touting a turning radius of 33.5 feet and 3.5 turns lock to lock for the steering.

One eyebrow-raising spec – while the ID.4 uses front disc brakes, the rears have drums. Not many modern vehicles using drums these days. VW’s press materials claim that because EVs use regenerative braking, drums are more effective after long periods of not being used than discs are.

The styling is swoopy, and there’s no grille, because, hey, an EV doesn’t need one. There are LED lights up front, and buyers who opt for the Statement package get a lit-up VW logo and a front light bar. There’s a spoiler at the rear, and VW is claiming a drag coefficient of 0.28.

The ID.4 gives up more than four inches to the Tiguan, at 180.5 inches long. Its wheelbase is 108.9 inches, height 64.4 inches, and width 72.9 inches.

There will be six colors available, and the roof will be body color. Wheels will be 19-inch aluminum alloys. A black roof, adaptive front lighting, and 20-inch wheels are available.

Inside, the ID.4 offers almost 100 cubic feet of passenger volume, and cargo volume is 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 with them folded.

Gauges are digital, and voice control is a big part of the picture. There’s no shifter, just a rocker switch. The infotainment screen is a 10-incher, upgradable to 12. Gesture control will be available. An interior light strip is used to alert the driver that certain functions are active.

Available features include rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, keyless access, heated steering wheel (standard), satellite radio, power tailgate, adjustable trunk floor, Apple CarPlay, and in-car Wi-Fi.

Driver-assist tech includes forward-collision warning, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, travel assist, emergency assist, road-sign display, park-distance control, and high-beam assist.

The ID.4 Pro will start at $39,995, as mentioned, before the $7,500 credit from the feds. An AWD Pro will ring the register at $43,695, and a heated windshield and a tow hitch are added along with the more powerful motor. The available Statement Package runs $4,500 and the Gradient $1,500. You must buy Statement to get Gradient.

The limited-edition ID.4 1st Edition will start at $43,995. It will have the Pro’s standard features, plus the Statement and Gradient packages, but no light-up logo. There are play and pause icons on the pedals, unique badging and trim, and unique interior finishings. Yes, you do get the tow hitch.

A $35K model appears planned for the near future.

VW will be selling this car in all 50 states and via all of its dealer network. You can plunk down a fully refundable $100 deposit now, and when production starts, you’ll be asked to put down another $400 deposit, also refundable, if you’re still on board.

[Images: Volkswagen]