Meet the I.D. It is a hatchback that not only underlines what Volkswagens of the future will look like but also focuses on the shift in the manufacturer's outlook towards electric vehicles.
Meet the I.D. It is a hatchback that not only underlines what Volkswagens of the future will look like but also focuses on the shift in the manufacturer's outlook towards electric vehicles. It will go on sale in 2020, and the German automaker says it will be priced on par (and be equally powerful) as the Golf. Not just that, the very same concept will feature fully automated driving by 2025.
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The I.D is the first Volkswagen to be based on the new MEB platform, which will go on to underpin more electric vehicles from the brand's stable. "The concept behind the I.D. guarantees the best possible ride comfort, optimum use of space, maximum safety and ground-breaking sustainability," read the official press release issued by the Wolfsburg-based auto giant.
The design of the I.D, in particular, is minimal, to say the least. Volkswagen has gotten rid of cooling grilles from the front altogether. The highlight is the eye-like LED headlamps, that light up in a supercool shade of aqua blue.
The side shows off the city-friendly proportions, and features a dominant character line that is associated with most recent Volkswagen vehicles. In case you didn't notice, the I.D does not have a B-pillar at all! Moreover, the rear door opens backwards to aid ingress and egress. Just to remind you one more time that the concept hints at the future, the automaker has ditched rear-view mirrors as well, claiming cameras will take charge instead in the future. The large 20-inch wheels and the blue-coloured tyres sum up the profile nicely.
The rear features horizontal LED taillamps, and the boot lid is finished in a contrasting black colour. We love how the boot melds into the panoramic sunroof. Little details such as the blue diffuser and the illuminated Volkswagen logo look swell too!
The insides feature four independent seats, finished in light grey. The rear seats can be folded up, or tucked away into the floor altogether to give you 960-litres of cargo volume. Pretty practical, no? Volkswagen says that the I.D is shorter in length compared to a Golf. But, the wheelbase is almost on par with the much larger Passat.
Goodies include an electrically adjustable and retractable multifunction steering wheel, a 10-inch 'Active Info Display' screen, an electronic interior mirror (e-Mirror), an AR-Heads-up Display.
The I.D is powered by a 125kW (170PS) electric motor that is capable of travelling 400 to 600 kms on a single charge. It is no slouch either, with the manufacturer claiming a 0-100kmph time of under 8 seconds, and a top whack of 160kmph. It also features a rapid charging system, which charges the car up to 80 per cent within thirty minutes.
The concept also happens to be the first Volkswagen capable of fully automated driving. The I.D features four laser scanners on the roof, that protrude when "I.D pilot" (VW code for autopilot) is engaged. It will also detect pedestrians and other vehicles courtesy the sensors clubbed with the front and rear cameras. If you thought that was all, there's one more party trick you should know of. The little hatch is capable of finding a spot in a multi-storey car park and park there all by itself! Pretty neat, eh?
Volkswagen maintains that the I.D has what it takes to create history. The German brand is hailing it as the modern-day equivalent of the Golf and the Beetle, which are legends in their own right. Will it be able to pull it off? Only time will tell!
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