Having dominated car sales since its release in 1970, The Golf is synonymous with the Volkswagen brand. However, the head honchos at VW are ready to usher in a new age spearheaded by their all-electric ID sub-brand. Having been originally unveiled as a concept at the Paris Motor Show in 2016, the brand new Volkswagen ID 3 is due to be released this summer and many of our customers are starting to have their delivery date confirmed. That said, what is all the fuss about?
Firstly, the technology used in the new ID range will be a first for the industry. VW’s e-Golf and e-Up!, like most electric vehicles, are both based on combustion-engine platforms. The ID 3 will debut the new MEB platform which will soon be common place in new electric vehicles to be released by Audi, SEAT and Skoda. The ‘1st Edition’ specification will feature a rear-mounted 201bhp electric motor and a 58kWh battery pack, providing a range of up to 260 miles and future, higher spec models will have a range of up to 340 miles. Most models will come with support for 100kW fast charging as standard, allowing up to 180 miles range on just half an hour of charging.
Secondly, those who have driven the new ID 3 are not just impressed by its electric performance. Autocar have praised the ID 3 for its ‘all-round compactness, clever packaging, urban manoeuvrability, zappy yet quiet performance and uncharacteristically bold styling’. While still resembling the VW Golf, the new ID 3 has a longer shape and is much lighter, further enhancing its futuristic feel. The driving experience and design have been likened to the Tesla model 3 without the price tag and in a smaller size.
Speaking of price tag, the most exciting aspect of the new ID 3 may be in its economy. The first batch will be marketed at around £30,000: less than the current VW e-Golf. Moreover, the new technology will be significantly cheaper to run than traditional fuels and even electric combustion engines. The price point also makes the ID 3 a more affordable option when compared to its electric vehicle counterparts, the Tesla Model 3 or Nissan Leaf.
All in all, while it is still early days for the new Volkswagen ID range and it remains to be seen how popular the ID 3 will be, this new wave of electric vehicle technology no doubt offers some cause for excitement. Just as the pendulum seems to finally be swinging towards electric travel, this latest release by VW has come at the perfect time.
If you are thinking of switching to an electric vehicle and would like to know more about the ID 3 or any aspect of going electric, please get in touch. Call us at 0141 280 8890 or drop us an email at info@britetechnicalservices.co.uk. A technical team member will happily talk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
Alternatively we also have a variety of platforms available with extensive information about electric vehicles, EV chargepoints (evchargepoints.com), and EE accessories.