Volkswagen has announced that it is accelerating its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) by expanding its ID family of electric cars and introducing three new electric SUVs to its lineup. Along with these new models, the existing ones will also receive updated and more powerful powertrains, as well as a facelift with updated interiors from next year.
See also: 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 come new range, faster charging and new interior
The first of the three new models will be an electric version of the VW Tiguan. While it will be based mainly on the VW ID.4, it will look different from the ID family and have a more traditional SUV appearance, with the aim of appealing to current VW buyers with more traditional requirements. The car will be offered with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive setups, as well as a choice of 5-seater and 7-seater options. The new powertrains will be based on the updated MEB+ platform, which will also offer better and larger battery options. VW plans to launch a new unified battery cell technology in 2025, which will power the new SUV.
The electric Tiguan will be manufactured in Germany alongside the updated ID.3 at the Wolfsburg factory, which is undergoing a €460 million upgrade to be ready for production in 2025.
After the electric Tiguan launch, VW will focus on revamping another of its bestsellers, the T-Cross, with an electric version called the ID.2X. The new entry-level crossover will be based mostly on the ID.2all Volkswagen and will be the cheapest electric SUV available from VW. The ID.2X will have one electric motor powering the front wheels and will use the new unified cell battery technology, as well as the LFP chemistry to keep its price affordable. It will be manufactured in Barcelona alongside its siblings from Skoda and Cupra and will offer a choice of 38 kWh or 56 kWh batteries, with the latter good for at least 280 miles (450 km).
The final new model joining the revised EV lineup will be a premium crossover, which VW wants to showcase as a technological masterpiece for the new drivetrain. The company aims to represent VW’s software design capabilities through this new car. The premium crossover will be slightly smaller than the Touareg and will be launched in 2028. It will be based on the SSP platform, the same platform used by Porsche for the upcoming Macan, indicating that the two vehicles will have more in common. The new EV will use the 800V architecture and will be capable of fast charging beyond 350 kW, with bi-directional support. The new prismatic cell technology will support both LFP and NMC battery cells. The vehicle will potentially replace the China-only ID.6 and become a global model.
VW’s ambitious plans for the Trinity SUV/crossover include a 435-mile (700 km) range and Level 4 autonomous driving. The software will come from Cariad, which has raised concerns due to its track record. Nonetheless, the VW sources claim that the new crossover SUV has the potential to become a global model and potentially replace the China-only ID.6. The ID.6 has been on sale in China since 2021 and is the largest electric SUV from Volkswagen, measuring almost 4.9 meters in length and offering 302 hp, making it the most powerful electric SUV from the brand.
