The Volkswagen ID.2 is getting awfully close to production, but the Polo-size EV is yet to be confirmed for Australian release despite previous indications it would be sold here.
With Volkswagen Australia’s on again, off again plans for the long-awaited Golf-size ID.3 hatch now cancelled at least in its current generation, there seems little chance of smaller electric models, such as the ID.2, finding their way to our shores.
The company’s local arm had previously said the ID.2 would come to Australia, it was “just a matter of when”.
The ID.2 emerges just days after Cupra Australia confirmed the Born, the ID.3’s twin-under-the-skin, was now discontinued Down Under, although it maintained “planning for the next evolution of the Born – including the performance VZ – continues”.
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This latest Volkswagen ID.2 prototype was spied on the streets outside the Nurburgring racetrack, and is wearing just the thinnest of disguises.
There are printed covers around the headlights, and tail-lights that give the impression that the car is a humble Polo, but a peek a little more closely and you can see it is basically the 2023 ID. 2all concept (bottom) brought to life.
Sheetmetal changes seem to be limited a simpler bonnet design, and some extra creases on the lower door. There are also larger flagpole-style wing mirrors, and a lightly revised front bumper with a wider and taller lower air intake.
Don’t be fooled by the rear door handle stickers. Like the concept, the production car’s rear door handles are hidden in the window frame to create the impression of a three-door hatch.
It’s unclear what the production version of the ID.2 will be known as, with Martin Sander, the Volkswagen brand’s chief of marketing and sales, confirming earlier this year that all new EV models “will get proper names again”.
With the concept measuring 4050mm long – a few millimetres less than the Polo – it’s possible the ID.2 may be christened ID.Polo or Polo EV.
Reverting to “proper names” follows on from a declaration in 2023 by Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen’s head of design, that the marque would ditch the current rounded, cab-forward design of the ID cars for something more normal and traditional for its next-generation EVs.
Whatever it’s called, the ID.2 rides on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB Entry architecture, which will also underpin the Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval.
While the larger MEB platform that serves as the basis of most of the automaker’s EVs is rear-wheel drive by default, MEB Entry is a front-wheel drive architecture.
At launch, MEB Entry will support 38kWh and 56kWh batteries, with the latter having DC fast-charging up 125kW and a range of around 450km.
In Europe, pricing for the ID.2 is expected to start under €25,000 (A$44,450), meaning it will compete against the Citroen e-C3 and Renault 5 E-Tech.
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