In a bid to catch up with the emerging trend in the new mobility space, Volkswagen is once again speeding up the transformation to electric mobility with its Accelerate strategy.
According to the vehicle manufacturer, its objective is to make sustainable mobility accessible to even more people by 2025, which is two years earlier than initially planned by the group.
With this strategy, Volkswagen aims to increase the share of all-electric models in total vehicle sales in Europe to at least 70% and in North America and China to at least 50% by 2030.
The ID. family model for the small car segment from VW will cost approximately € 20,000. The ID. LIFE concept car, presented at the International Motor Show IAA MOBILITY 2021 in Munich, gives an impression of how a vehicle of this type would look.
Ralf Brandstätter, CEO, Volkswagen brand, said, “The ID. LIFE is our vision of next-generation fully electric urban mobility. The concept car provides a preview of an ID. model in the small car segment that we will be launching in 2025, priced at around 20,000 euros. In creating the ID. LIFE, we have consistently focused on the needs of younger customers. We believe that, even more so than today, the car of the future will be about lifestyle and personal expression. The customer of tomorrow won’t simply want to get from A to B; they will be much more interested in the experiences that a car can offer. The ID. LIFE is our answer to this.”
Based on a smaller variant of Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB), the ID. LIFE has been developed specifically for the small car segment. This is the first time a vehicle based on the MEB has front-wheel drive. With its 172 kW (234 PS) electric motor, the vehicle accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, while its 57 kWh high-voltage battery enables a range of some 400 kilometres (WLTP).
The sustainable character of the ID. LIFE is reflected particularly in the choice of materials and paint finishes. In the clear coat for the bodywork, wood chips are used as a natural colouring agent and a bio-based hardener. The air chamber textile for the roof and the front cover is made from 100% recycled PET bottles. In the interior, wood in the dashboard and rear seat surrounds is combined with ArtVelours Eco for the seat surfaces and door trims. Bio-oil, natural rubber and rice husks are some materials that serve as a basis for the tyres on the ID. LIFE.
The interior of the car is designed to be a reliable companion for digital experiences of various kinds. For example, it can be converted into a cinema or gaming lounge in no time at all. The vehicle comes with a video game console and projector and a projection screen that extends from the dash panel when required. Other devices can be connected as needed to the 230-volt / 16-amp power supply in the interior.
The car is provided with a flexible seating arrangement to make it a companion for all situations and lifestyles. The front seat bench can be completely folded down, as can the rear seat bench. This enables several possibilities, from cinema seating to a bed measuring around two metres in length to a cargo version that maximises luggage volume.
Cameras and a display replace both the exterior and interior mirrors. Essential driving functions are controlled via a touch panel on the hexagonal, open-topped steering wheel, and a smartphone can be integrated into the operating system.