Volkswagen's ID.2: Shockingly Affordable or Just Shocking?
Greetings, fellow road warriors and electricity enthusiasts! Today, we're gonna look closer into the electric realm once more, courtesy of Volkswagen's latest concoction, the ID.2. It's like the electric car world heard our collective plea for something affordable and responded with a cheeky grin. But is it really the spark we've been waiting for, or is it just a lot of confusion? Let's peel back the electrically charged curtain and take a gander at what VW's brewing.
For starters, imagine this: a car that won't send you to the financial electric chair. Volkswagen claims the ID.2 is the answer, promising affordability that won't make your bank account scream in agony. It's like the automaker found the secret sauce for electric vehicles on a budget. But as always, my friends, the devil is in the details, and in this case, they're electric blue.
Volkswagen is rolling out the ID.2all - a concept for now - that promises to be cheaper than therapy and maybe even your last set of tires. The MEB Entry platform that supports the ID.2, birthed from the same family tree as the ID.3 and Skoda’s Enyaq, is the brainchild that hopes to deliver EVs for less than $28,000. Hold your horsepower, though; that was the original plan, but plans change faster than a Tesla in Ludicrous Mode.
This baby boasts a single front-mounted motor flexing its electric muscles with 223 bhp, propelling you from 0-62mph in a respectable seven seconds. The battery comes in two flavors: a modest 38 kWh and a grande 56 kWh. The big pack promises around 280 miles on a single charge. And, if you're the impatient type, fear not! A coffee break-worthy 20-minute charge will zap your battery from 10 to 80 percent thanks to a 125 kW peak charging capacity.
When it comes to looks, the ID.2all appears to have raided its family's wardrobe, rocking a style that echoes the Beetle, Golf, and Polo. It's like the Brady Bunch of Volkswagen design, minus the questionable fashion choices. It's shorter than the Polo but with more room between the axles, making it the Goldilocks of VW's electric lineup.
The big difference though - it doesn't scream "I'm electric!" from the rooftops. VW's design maestro, Andreas Mindt, claims it's an "homage" to stability and likability. Well, call me skeptical, but I'll believe it when I see it zipping down the road without shouting about its electric pedigree.
Step inside, and you're greeted by a minimalist cabin that's all about screens and switches. But fear not, for VW has listened to the cries of touchscreen-haters. The ID.2all has simple, physical switches for temperature and seat controls. They've even thrown in a rotating knob for volume control, because twisting is more satisfying than swiping, apparently.
And if you're feeling nostalgic, the dash screen will let you relive the glory days of VW with themes like 'Vintage' Golf, 'Classic' Beetle, and 'Modern' ID.2. A rotary gear selector and a mysterious dial between the seats for drive modes complete the tech carnival.
Sneak peak of the upcoming VW ID.2all SUV
The ID.2 is not just about looks and speed; it's got practicality in its electric veins. With a boot capacity of 440 liters (that's almost 60 liters more than the ID.3, folks), you can fit more than just your enthusiasm for electric vehicles. Fold down the rear seats, and you've got 1,330 liters, making it roomier than your aunt's minivan.
VW is on a roll. Within a year of the ID.2's debut, a sibling-sized all-electric SUV will join the family, previewed by the ID.2all SUV. And if that's not enough to tingle your EV senses, they're working on something even cheaper. A sub-20,000 euro EV led by Skoda engineers is allegedly in the pipeline, aiming to hit the streets by 2027. So, is the Volkswagen ID.2 the affordable electric savior we've been waiting for? Well, the road to affordable electric glory is paved with good intentions and a fair share of skepticism. Until then, hold on to your charging cables, keep charging, and may your range anxiety be shorter than the promised release dates.
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
