Volkswagen’s ID.3 EV said to be produced by JVs with SAIC, FAW next year

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The ID.3, the first mass-produced model of Volkswagen's ID. family, will be locally produced in China by both SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen next year, according to a local media outlet.

The ID.3 features a very spiffy and stylish exterior. The front is pretty unmistakable thanks to the LED strip that connects the headlight cluster and the central newly-designed two-dimensional logo, as well as the bumper that stretches across the lower part of the front.

ID.3; photo credit: Volkswagen

As for the side profile, the two-tone car body and the petal-shaped give the ID.3 its distinct profile. The front windshield and the A-pillar that extends well into the front hood hint at a smooth roofline.

The car is 4,261mm long, 1,809mm wide and 1,552mm, and has a wheelbase that spans up to 2,765mm, much longer than the regular family hatchback's.

The long wheelbase of the modular electric drive matrix layout and the very short overhangs result in a strikingly large vehicle interior—the Open Space sets new benchmarks in the compact category.

The interior design is clean and uncluttered. The information is displayed on a digital “pod” instrument panel and the gear selector is a rocker switch next to it. The 10-inch console-mounted floating liquid crystal screen is standard across the range, and the car adopts touch-sensitive controls for the air conditioning and stereo. There are some physical dials below the touchscreen to facilitate driver's operation.

Based on Volkswagen's MEB platform, the ID.3 is powered by an electric motor at the rear axle that pumps out up to 150kW and 310 N·m. The car comes with three types of battery packs—45kW/h, 58kW/h and 77kW/h, which are available for 330km, 420km and 550km ranges in line with the WLTP standard.