Volkswagen ID.3 R, the high-performance version of ID.3

Volkswagen has unveiled its first-ever electric vehicle ID.3  under the company’s ID range at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is based on a modular MEB (modular electric toolkit) platform and its design resembles a Golf, albeit with an electric power plant. A recent report mentioned that the firm is looking to come up with a high-performance version of ID.3 and it is likely to come on the roads by 2024. Further, it seems to have an all-wheel-drive system provided with at least two high-power oriented electric motors for better acceleration.

Frank Welsch, R&D official of the company stated, “ID.3 R was one of his tops prioritize to optimize the ID.3 as it ages. We should have the same cars like the Golf, GTI and R. People like performance and I’m sure people will love performance in ID cars too”. He also explained, “The situation is different – even in the normal ID, we have a good performance right from the very beginning, you just touch the pedal and you feel the punch. From 0-60 km is like the GTI. No GTI is faster than the ID.3. At the upper end, of course, GTI is better”. 

The sales boss of the company, Jurgen Stackmann asserted, “If there is a future for R it must be electric, it’s very simple. It won’t be next year, because we need to define what R is in the electric world. Clearly, the word R means a high output combustion engine, and that will now move to higher output plug-in hybrid systems and then it will move onwards to R electric. We need to get firm on our electric vision fast.”

The new ID.3 has three variants – ID.3, ID.3 Plus, ID.3 Max and all the variants incorporate a rear axle-mounted electric motor that delivers 204 PS of power and 310 Nm of torque, with a rated top speed of 160 kmph. The base model gets a 45kWh battery with a range of 330 km on a single charge, Plus has a 58kWh battery with a range of 420km, and the top of the line Max gets a 77kWh battery pack that gives a range of 550km on a single charge. The prices start from $33,000.

Also read: Volkswagen USA to axe the Golf Alltrack & Sportwagen