VW I.D. Concept To Make Debut at Paris Motor Show

The Paris Motor Show is sure to be a very exciting event for Volkswagen. VW will be revealing its I.D. concept car which will become the first Volkswagen built off the Modular Electric Drive concept. As we’ve mentioned in previous blogs, VW is hard at work on up to 30 new models based on three electric foundations. The I.D. concept is just the first of this lineup. The concept will use a 168-horsepower electric motor, have an interior with the Open Space concept, and will allow us to get a first glimpse of fully automated driving with a multifunction steering wheel that retracts into the “dashpad” in fully automated mode. VW has released a very detailed press release on the new concept and we’ll take the time to dissect it in this, and the next post. Today we will take a look at the exterior and performance details and next week we’ll get to the interior and its futuristic technologies.

As stated above, the I.D. concept uses new MEB vehicle architecture which exhibits a long wheelbase with very short overhangs; it is just over 13 feet in length. The car looks as though it were made from of a single piece of aluminum or a translucent block of ice. The narrow front end structure gives the highest level of safety while still allowing the front wheels to turn sharply and give a small turning radius. Traditional door mirrors have been replaced by cameras which are integrated into the front fenders which also houses large, sculpted bumpers and “Anodized Blue” diffusers. The lack of B-pillars between the front and back doors allows for more room, but the rear swivel backward doors maintain the integrity of the cabin and its safety. Finally, front interactive LED lights are framed by a C-shaped light signature and at the rear are narrow horizontal LED taillights. White and blue 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with blue low-rolling resistance tires finish out the look.

As for performance, the I.D. concept is a zero-emissions drive system. The 168-horsepower electric motor will be paired with a single-gear transmission and a flat lithium-ion battery that is integrated into the floor. Interestingly enough, this battery will be able to be charged by cable or using an inductive charging interface in the front of the car (similar to your wireless phone chargers). It will also be possible to configure the I.D. with different battery capacities for more customized driving.

“The electric powertrain gives our designers far greater freedom. We have shrunk the cooling grilles to a minimum, shifted the axles far outwards and created breathtaking proportions, as demonstrated by the I.D. —an icon of the future. We had the unique opportunity to guide Volkswagen into a new era, and with the I.D we have taken this opportunity.”

The I.D. concept is due to go on sale in 2020, with a range of up to 373 miles on a single battery charge.

“REVOLUTIONARY VOLKSWAGEN I.D. ELECTRIC CONCEPT CAR MAKES ITS WORLD DEBUT AT THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW.” Volkswagen US Media Newsroom. Volkswagen, 29 Sept. 2016. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

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