CAR NEWS: VOLKSWAGEN ID
I-spy ID.3 as first models roll into the UK A major milestone in Volkswagen’s latest chapter has been marked with the arrival of the ground-breaking Volkswagen ID.3 1st Edition in the UK, heralding the start of the company’s electric future. As well as its cutting-edge electric powertrain, the ID.3 is generously equipped, featuring heated front seats, Natural Voice Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, Keyless entry and start, LED matrix headlights with Welcome Light, a bi-colour exterior, and 19-inch wheels. The ID.3 uses a 58 kWh (net capacity) battery and a 204 PS electric motor driving the rear wheels. It has a range of 261 miles (WLTP) and can rapid-charge at 100 kW, which can add 180 miles of range in as little as 30 minutes. The ID.3 introduces a number of new features to the Volkswagen range, including a central airbag, which helps prevent collision between occupants in the event of a side impact. Built on the MEB (Modular Electric Drive Matrix) platform, the ID.3 has a modular battery pack design, meaning different battery capacities can be ordered, with customers able to opt for different ranges based on their requirements. The flexible MEB platform can accommodate numerous body styles – indeed, an entire family of ID. models will launch over 14 | October 2020 | Company Car & Van
the next few years, the first of which will be the ID.4 SUV. It is anticipated that by 2025 1.5 million electric Volkswagens will be sold annually around the world. First announced in May 2019, the ID.3 1ST Edition is the flag-bearer of the ID.3 line-up. Priced at £38,880 before any Government grant is applied it features exclusive badging and a two-tone honeycomb decal, alongside an extensive equipment list. Standard equipment includes LED headlights with Matrix Beam and Welcome Light, 19-inch Andoya alloy wheels and tinted rear windows, along with a black-coloured roof, side skirts, boot and rear spoiler. Several driver assistance systems are also included, with Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist and Lane Assist included in the package, as well as parking sensors and a rear-view camera. Inside, a 10-inch infotainment system with natural voice control function complements a fully digital dashboard, while ambient lighting with 30 colour options allows the driver to change the mood of the interior to their preference. ‘Play’ and ‘Pause’ symbols on the pedals add a further sense of fun to the forward-thinking electric vehicle. The ID.3 1ST Edition also launches with the industry-first ID.Light – a dynamic LED band the width of the interior windscreen, which
changes its pattern and colour to supplement and support Navigation signals, charging status, driver assist technologies or the natural voice control. Personalisation options available include four paint colours – Moonstone Grey (standard), Manganese Grey, Glacier White and Makena Turquoise (all £620) – and three interior colour schemes: white and black, white and orange, and black. The ID.3 1ST Edition has an ample range of 260 miles (WLTP) from its 58 kWh (net) battery capacity. It also features the added bonus of rapid charging compatibility of up to 100 kW, with the ability to add around 180 miles of range in just 30 minutes from a 100 kW CCS charger. The 260-mile range is sufficient to travel from London to Manchester, with 50 miles to spare. With 204 PS of power and 310 Nm of torque instantly available, the ID.3 1ST is fast enough to match a Golf GTI from rest up to 37mph, while the 0 to 62 mph sprint is dispatched in a brisk 7.3 seconds before maximum speed is reached at 99 mph. The ID.3 1ST also benefits from the Volkswagen brand high-voltage battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. By virtue of Volkswagen’s clever Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) platform, the ID.3 www.companycarandvan.co.uk
