VW has unveiled today the production version of one of the most anticipated electric car of the year, the ID.3, Volkswagen’s first car on its new MEB electric platform.

The based version of the ID.3 electric car starts under $33,000 (€30,000) and the range of the higher-end version goes up to 340 miles (550 km).

We already have a pretty good idea of the specs from preview reports by VW, but they have now made everything official.

The ID.3 is going to be offered with 3 different battery packs:

VW ID.3 Basic Variant

A base version will arrive later with a 45 kWh battery pack, which VW says will enable “an electrically powered range of up to 330 kilometers as per WLTP.”

VW says about this version:
This will be the version starting under “under $33,000 (€30,000).”

VW ID.3 Mid-Range Variant (also ID.3 1ST)

The mid-range version is going to be the first to be deliveries as the ID.3 First Edition.

The automaker describes the powertrain:
VW hasn’t released the exact pricing of the ID.3 First Edition yet.

VW ID.3 Long-Range Variant

Finally, a longer-range version is also going to be available with a much larger 77 kWh battery pack:
The price of this variant is also not confirmed yet.

VW ID.3 Production Design

The design of the production version is probably the biggest part of the unveiling since it’s one of the only things we haven’t seen yet.

Klaus Bischoff, Head Designer of the Volkswagen brand, commented on the ID.3:
Here are some pictures of the ID.3 released by VW today:













We are also getting our first look at the ID.3’s interior. Volkswagen describes it:
Here are some pictures of the electric car’s interior:











The ID.3 also comes with VW’s latest driver assist features: “Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring, multicollision brake and Lane Assist lane keeping system, Side Assist lane change system, Park Assist including rear view camera system.”

On top of the powertrain version described above, The VW ID.3 is going to be offered in a few different configurations:

• The basic version of the ID.3 1ST includes a navigation system, a DAB+ digital radio, seat heating and steering wheel heating, armrests at the front, a Mode 2 charging cable and 18-inch light-alloy wheels—comparable with Comfort equipment in the compact vehicle segment.
• The ID.3 1ST Plus additionally features a rear view camera system, Adaptive Cruise Control and the Kessy Advanced keyless access locking and starting system. The vehicle interior of the ID.3 1ST Plus also includes design seats, a center console (including two USB-C connections at the rear that can be locked with a roller shutter and feature lighting) as well as ambient lighting. On the outside, tinted windows, the exterior Style package in silver, matrix LED headlights, matrix side lights, brake lights, turn indicators and tail light clusters as well as 19-inch light-alloy wheels also form part of the equipment scope.
• The top-of-the-range version, the ID.3 1ST Max, also includes the augmented reality (AR) head-up display, the Beats sound system, a large panorama sliding/tilting glass roof to underline the feeling of space as well as 20-inch light-alloy wheels. This equipment scope is supplemented by a lane keeping system with Emergency Assist, a lane change system, comfort telephony featuring contactless high-voltage battery charging, comfort seats, a level luggage compartment floor and large 20-inch light-alloy wheels.

Again, we don’t know the exact pricing for those configurations.

As we reported earlier today, VW plans to start production of the new electric car in November, but VW ID.3 deliveries won’t start until ‘summer 2020’.

Electrek’s Take

I like it.

It’s a sharp little hatchback, which is a great form-factor that I think has been under-utilized with electric powertrains so far.

With caution, I think we can get excited by the ID.3.

I say with caution because I think we still need to know the prices of all the different configurations. I think the base one at less than 30,000 euros will be fine for a lot of people, but the longer range and faster charging would be appreciated by a lot more people depending on the price.

Also, I am obviously disappointed by the fact that VW only plans to bring the vehicle to Europe and not the US.

Arguably, you could say that it is technically a compliance car since the reason it’s only in Europe is due to the EU’s stricter emission laws.

However, if it’s a compliance car, it’s a mass-market and high-volume compliance car so we are going to take it.