Volkswagen Australia’s upcoming ID-branded EV offensive will see extra streamlined mannequin ranges, in line with the model’s native boss for passenger automobiles.
Michal Szaniecki, VW Australia’s director for passenger automobiles, advised CarExpert new electrical fashions just like the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs will supply line-ups “a lot less complicated” than present nameplates.
“Every mannequin shall be a lot less complicated than right now’s portfolio” Mr Szaniecki stated. “That’s utterly wonderful, it’s appreciated by our prospects as a result of the selection is far more intuitive, a lot less complicated, and far sooner.”
“Economically, it’s additionally justified as a result of [customers] aren’t misplaced in an abundance of alternatives.”
Meaning Australians aren’t prone to see a sprawling vary of variants when the brand new ID. merchandise land Down Underneath, with Szaniecki indicating we will anticipate a far much less dense mannequin tree in comparison with one thing just like the Tiguan SUV, which provides no fewer than seven variants as a five-seater alone.
Within the case of the Tiguan-sized ID.4, the worldwide vary features a 108kW (148PS) base mannequin with 52kWh lithium-ion battery, good for 0-100km/h in 10.9 seconds and a WLTP-certified mixed driving vary of 342 kilometres.
There’s additionally a 125kW (170PS) single-motor variant provided with the smaller battery, in addition to 128kW (174PS) single-motor and 150kW (204PS) dual-motor variants with a bigger 77kWh battery with 318-320 miles (511-515km) of vary. A brand new 195kW 4Motion variant simply joined the European line-up in August, quoting as much as 517km of vary.
Mr Szaniecki’s feedback point out the native division will give attention to mid- and high-spec grades, maybe the 77kWh variants every with a unique degree of spec, providing RWD and AWD choices.
Sitting above the core line-up is the performance-focused GTX, which will get 220kW from its dual-motor electrical drive system and quotes a driving vary of 479km from its 77kWh battery.
Whereas VW Australia has but to correctly affirm if and once we may see the ID.4 GTX (and ID.5 GTX) in Australia, CarExpert understands the go-fast variations are excessive on the native wishlist and prone to be a part of the line-up slightly after the core vary arrives Down Underneath in round 12 months time.
In the meantime, the coupe-styled ID.5 already has a streamlined vary in abroad markets just like the UK, solely provided with the long-range battery however varied outputs. We’d anticipate the same technique right here, maybe restricted to AWD variations solely given the extra premium positioning.
The smaller ID.3 hatchback received’t come to Australia till the mid-life facelift – prone to debut someday in 2024 – however within the meantime the almost equivalent Cupra Born is earmarked for an early-2023 gross sales launch in Australia, filling the void for a extra inexpensive EV throughout the VW Group secure.
Past the pure-electric automobiles VW plans to convey to Australia, the German auto big is trying to be a part of the hybrid market throughout the subsequent 12 months – plug-in hybrids, particularly.
The Touareg R PHEV shall be right here early subsequent yr, whereas the Golf GTE sizzling hatch and Tiguan eHybrid SUV are the 2 fashions just about confirmed for arrival someday in 2023, with Mr Szaniecki hinting {that a} Passat PHEV could possibly be on the playing cards for Australia too – doubtless with the following technology mannequin believed to be within the wings for a 2023 reveal.
In keeping with the feedback from VW’s passenger automotive boss, anticipate the plug-in fashions to be obtainable as a single, high-spec providing – the Touareg R and Golf GTE are, naturally, tied to a single trim degree already.
Once more the VW model has been overwhelmed by one among its personal Group members in providing PHEV tech, with Cupra launching the Leon and Formentor plug-in hybrids this yr, and Audi has beforehand provided the A3 e-tron within the early days of the small hatchback’s earlier technology.
MORE: Volkswagen – EVs, newer engines on the radar because of Federal policyMORE: Volkswagen ID.3 coming to Australia with mid-life facelift
