Everything back to the beginning was the motto a few months ago in Wolfsburg’s Wallhalla, the secret presentation room for future Volkswagen models. The production version of the VW ID Life, shown for the first time at the IAA a year and a half ago, has had its juice cut off. After the electric entry-level model ID.3 in particular has received a lot of criticism since its market launch, no more mistakes should now happen. The Volkswagen management team gave the new chief designer Andreas Mindt a task: everything from scratch. In record time, not only were well-known and already largely approved models laid hands on, but also the temporary entry-level model with a plug – the ID.2, whose study was given the name annex “all”.
The new head of design has the Volkswagen DNA in his veins, because his father was a designer in Wolfsburg before him. Andreas Mindt joined Volkswagen in 1996 and designed bestsellers such as the first Tiguan and the seventh generation Golf. In 2014 he moved to Audi in Ingolstadt as Head of Exterior Design. The next step followed in 2021 when Mindt became Head of Styling at Bentley in Crewe, UK, but he has always remained close to the parent brand and is still the proud owner of a Beetle to this day. His words underscore the relevance of past icons in the VW range as we move towards a different future: “We are carrying the DNA of our icons into the future. The ID. 2all is therefore also a homage to the Beetle, Golf and Polo .”
The new crossover should be an affordable darling of the masses. A price of less than 25,000 euros, an electric range of 450 kilometers and, for the first time, front-wheel drive. After all, the platform was saved from the failed VW ID. Life in the new beacon of hope. Since the previous electric models all have rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, this is a new way of keeping costs down. “We are transforming the company quickly and fundamentally – with a clear goal: to make Volkswagen a real love brand,” emphasizes Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, “the ID. 2all shows where we want to go with the brand as a whole: Close to Customers, top technology and great design. We are speeding up the transformation to spread e-mobility.”
The ID2 design is typical Volkswagen – pleasing but anything but conspicuous, valuable and not as cute as the planned Life variant. Chief Development Officer Kai Grünitz: “The ID. 2all will be the first MEB vehicle with front-wheel drive. We are using the high flexibility of our modular electric drive system and will set new standards in terms of technologies and suitability for everyday use with the so-called MEB Entry.” The performance data have hardly changed compared to the IAA study. The front axle is driven by a 226 hp electric motor. The first model of the adapted platform has to go to the charging station after 450 kilometers at the latest. The battery pack (either 38 or 56 kWh) in the underbody should be boosted from 10 to 80 percent in 20 minutes thanks to 125 kilowatts. It goes from zero to 100 km/h in seven seconds and is limited to 160 km/h.
The newly developed basic platform will be home to another electric model from 2026. A real entry-level model is planned below the ID.2, which despite the electric drive will cost less than 20,000 euros and should therefore follow in the footsteps of the current VW Polo. Despite its manageable dimensions, the 4.05 meter long VW ID.2 offers space for four people and lots of luggage. The variable load compartment has a volume of 490 liters, which can be expanded to up to 1,330 liters by folding down the rear seats. The criticism with unlit control sliders and complicated submenus was also taken up. The infotainment system with its 12.9-inch diagonal gets a classic volume control and a separate control element for the air conditioning.
