Latest news with #ID2
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Future VW Golf R EV Could Use Radical In-Wheel Motors
Volkswagen is said to be working on a hot version of the ID 2 small hatchback, likely to be known as the ID 2 R. While VW doesn't sell a hatchback smaller than the Golf in the United States, the ID 2 R could pave the way for the future all-electric Golf R, and VW seems to have come up with a clever way of integrating electric motors. These plans were revealed by Autocar, with its sources suggesting the ID 2 R will use electric hub motors situated in the rear wheels. As we'll see, this layout has multiple benefits. VW is already expected to debut the electric in 2026, but the new ID 2 R will be a lot more advanced. In addition to the front-mounted electric motor in the GTI, the R model will get independently controlled motors within the rear wheels, dramatically increasing performance and enabling all-wheel drive, which has traditionally been associated with the Golf R. By not going the more conventional dual-motor route, VW will be able to save weight and reduce the impact on trunk space, both important considerations in a compact car. Whereas the ID 2 GTI will make around 286 horsepower, a more likely output in the three-motor ID 2 R will be about 400 hp. This, together with the torque vectoring made possible by the hub motors, should make for a shockingly quick and agile hot hatch. Even more performance could be extracted from the larger Golf R EV with the same setup. While hub motors have many advantages, they can also increase unsprung mass - the weight of the components not supported by the suspension - which can negatively impact handling and grip. On the upside, the ID 2 R's tech has the potential to filter through to other small VWs with all-wheel drive. It would also allow cars with FWD, RWD, and AWD to be more easily built on the same platform, reducing costs and complexity. For now, the Golf R will soldier on as a potent ICE hatchback with its 328-hp turbo engine, snappy dual-clutch transmission, and dependable AWD system. But the potential of an electric successor looks bright - don't expect it to arrive much earlier than 2029 or 2030, though, especially with multiple brands backtracking on their EV plans. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Express
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 celebrates, well guess…
Volkswagen has revealed a new Polo Edition 50 to celebrate the popular supermini's half century of existence. Priced from £26,350, it'll be available in what VW calls limited numbers in the UK, with sales kicking off later this month. Unique to the Polo Edition 50 is the Crystal Blue paintwork, further enhanced by 17-inch alloy wheels and unique Edition 50 badges. Uprated LED front and rear lights are also standard fit, helping give the whole car an almost luxurious feel above and beyond the usual found in the supermini class. Advertisement - Article continues below Inside, VW has fitted more Edition 50 badges, plus a gloss black dashboard insert and privacy glass on the rear windows. Equipment has also been upgraded with a panoramic glass roof, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera and keyless access and starting. Under the bonnet is a single 89bhp three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine option, matched to a five-speed manual transmission. There's no sign of a dual-clutch option, or more powerful powertrains, leading to an unusual combination of a very high equipment list paired with one of the lower-specification engines. Yet while it might be easy to sign this special edition off as a rather thin effort in celebrating 50 years of an iconic model like the Polo, VW has much bigger plans later in the year when its all-electric ID.2, or arrives as the lynchpin for the brand's entire future line up. While the Polo isn't going anywhere quite yet, it'll be the new ID.2 which represents VW's actual celebration of offering an affordable model to buyers wanting the Volkswagen experience, just as the first Polo did 50 years ago. Only now, it won't have a combustion engine. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals…
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major car maker to release range of ‘mind-blowing' performance models including reimagined fan favourite hot hatchback
"We have driven a few prototypes that we have built on the new set-up, and it is mind-blowing" Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VOLKSWAGEN'S fan-favourite GTI performance range is set to continue into its all-electric future. In fact, the German giant promises it will be better than ever, with multiple model lines confirmed by CEO Thomas Schafer - who claims these new machines will be "mind-blowing" to drive. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Volkswagen's iconic GTI range is set to electrify the roads before the end of the decade Credit: Volkswagen AG 3 The ninth-generation all-electric Golf GTI promises excitement and innovation, blending sustainability with the unmistakable GTI spirit Credit: Volkswagen AG 3 Celebrating 50 years of Golf legacy, Volkswagen prepares to redefine hot hatchbacks once again Credit: Getty According to Autocar, the GTI range will go electric in 2026, starting with the ID-named GTI concept – a souped-up iteration of the ID 2 supermini. Naturally, a GTI version of the forthcoming all-electric ninth-generation Golf will also arrive by the end of the decade, marking the beginning of 'a whole group of GTI" models set to roll out in subsequent years. Work is reportedly already under way on the development of the first electric GTI models, with particular attention being paid to ensuring they are just as fun to drive as their predecessors. Schafer said: "First of all, can you make an electric Golf exciting? Absolutely. "We have driven a few prototypes that we have built on the new set-up, and it is mind-blowing." He added that the brand's priority is to engineer its electric GTI range in a way that makes its hot hatchbacks feel distinct from the standard models. Schafer said: "What about the sound? What about the total feel? The handling and so on can be done.' However, with the current petrol-powered car set to remain on sale for several more years, the production version of the electric Golf GTI will not appear in showrooms for some time. Schafer added: "We have time now, as the Golf is running very well into the end of this decade, and at the end of the decade, we'll bring an electric Golf." He also claimed the electric GTI will be "a monster car", adding: "I'm very happy with the progress. The world's most famous hatchback turned 50 in 2024 – key reasons why it's still going strong and loved by millions 'It's cool, and you can make it exciting. It has to be exciting, and it has to be authentic.' No date has been given for when VW plans to unveil the final version of the ID 2 GTI, although the standard car is due to launch in early 2026. Earlier this year, we revealed how the most noticeable change to the ninth-gen Golf would be its nameplate - with it set to be called the ID Golf. VW's ID range, which currently includes several models, is how the brand separates its lineup of fully electric vehicles - all developed as part of their commitment to sustainable mobility and reducing carbon emissions. The "ID" stands for Intelligent Design, Identity, and Idea, which reflects the German marque's vision for the future. Last year, the Golf celebrated its 50th year and we were lucky to rub shoulders with the Mk1 Golf Owners Club at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major car maker to release range of ‘mind-blowing' performance models including reimagined fan favourite hot hatchback
VOLKSWAGEN'S fan-favourite GTI performance range is set to continue into its all-electric future. In fact, the German giant promises it will be better than ever, with multiple model lines confirmed by CEO Thomas Schafer - who claims these new machines will be "mind-blowing" to drive. 3 3 3 According to Autocar, the GTI range will go electric in 2026, starting with the ID-named GTI concept – a souped-up iteration of the ID 2 supermini. Naturally, a GTI version of the forthcoming all-electric ninth-generation Golf will also arrive by the end of the decade, marking the beginning of 'a whole group of GTI" models set to roll out in subsequent years. Work is reportedly already under way on the development of the first electric GTI models, with particular attention being paid to ensuring they are just as fun to drive as their predecessors. Schafer said: "First of all, can you make an electric Golf exciting? Absolutely. "We have driven a few prototypes that we have built on the new set-up, and it is mind-blowing." He added that the brand's priority is to engineer its electric GTI range in a way that makes its hot hatchbacks feel distinct from the standard models. Schafer said: "What about the sound? What about the total feel? The handling and so on can be done.' However, with the current petrol-powered car set to remain on sale for several more years, the production version of the electric Golf GTI will not appear in showrooms for some time. Schafer added: "We have time now, as the Golf is running very well into the end of this decade, and at the end of the decade, we'll bring an electric Golf." He also claimed the electric GTI will be "a monster car", adding: "I'm very happy with the progress. The world's most famous hatchback turned 50 in 2024 – key reasons why it's still going strong and loved by millions 'It's cool, and you can make it exciting. It has to be exciting, and it has to be authentic.' No date has been given for when VW plans to unveil the final version of the ID 2 GTI, although the standard car is due to launch in early 2026. Earlier this year, we revealed how the most noticeable change to the ninth-gen Golf would be its nameplate - with it set to be called the ID Golf. VW's ID range, which currently includes several models, is how the brand separates its lineup of fully electric vehicles - all developed as part of their commitment to sustainable mobility and reducing carbon emissions. The "ID" stands for Intelligent Design, Identity, and Idea, which reflects the German marque's vision for the future. Last year, the Golf celebrated its 50th year and we were lucky to rub shoulders with the Mk1 Golf Owners Club at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham.
Auto Blog
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
VW Bets on Cheaper Batteries to Help Revamp EV Lineup Starting with ID.2
Volkswagen's affordable EV push is leveraging new battery tech Volkswagen (VW) has scheduled a substantial refresh of its electric lineup starting in 2026 with the release of the ID.2 supermini, the automaker's first-ever model to use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery tech that's less expensive than its current nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) packs, as first reported by Autocar UK. The VW Group's upcoming core EVs will segue from today's MEB platform into a new LFP battery platform named MEB Plus. LFP battery cells have slightly less energy density than NMC packs, but their production cost savings outweigh this energy discrepancy. The savings primarily stem from LFP batteries being less reliant on expensive materials like cobalt than NMC packs. New LFP cells also have higher thermal stability and a longer lifespan. After the ID.2's release, MEB Plus will make its way into VW models like the ID.3 hatchback, the U.S. market's ID.4 SUV, and the ID.7 sedan. Tesla was the first automaker to bring LFP batteries to the mass market with its Model 3 in China, followed by Ford's Mustang Mach-E. The Volkswagen ID.2 modular electric drive matrix (MEB) with front-wheel drive. — Source: Volkswagen News of the MEB Plus platform is significant given VW's earlier struggles in the EV segment. These roadblocks included the ID.3 and ID.4 launches experiencing software glitches, interior material quality complaints from users, and a perception that the vehicles didn't match or surpass the value of competitors like Tesla. VW's new Salzgitter, Germany, factory will manufacture the upcoming LFP batteries alongside the current NMC packs until they're phased out. The automaker's CEO, Thomas Schäfer, told Autocar UK: 'You can see this move towards LFP across the board, except for performance applications on the upper end. In the volume game, LFP is the technology.' Final thoughts MEB Plus will revitalize VW's EV lineup until the company launches its delayed SSP platform, a multi-billion euro extension of the current MEB modular system, according to Battery Industry. VW's use of MEB Plus also marks the brand's first substantial shift into a new platform that's cheaper to make, enhancing its mass market prospects. While the ID.2 is the automaker's first direct entry into the affordable EV market, it likely won't make it to the U.S., where VW and other manufacturers face export challenges with tariffs and an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that's on the verge of a substantial reorganization. Changes to the IRA could also slow the growth of U.S. battery production facilities, even if VW expands its U.S. manufacturing presence. Still, current and prospective U.S. EV drivers can look forward to cost reductions and possible range increases in models like the VW ID.4 SUV, along with GM's commercialization of LMR (lithium manganese-rich) prismatic battery cells that bring extended range electric trucks through more accessible pricing. Like VW's LFP battery tech, GM's LMR cells are less reliant on cobalt, which has introduced ethical dilemmas in addition to higher costs. Cobalt mining has exposed local communities, primarily the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to toxic metals while contributing to environmental degradation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces about 70% of the world's cobalt supply.
