Volkswagen planning clean green sporty machine

Wednesday, 26 February 2020

Volkswagen is on the cusp of launching its all-electric ID range with the ID.3 hatchback, which could get a more powerful GTX variant by 2024, offering similar performance to the Golf GTI.

However, there is still space in the ID range for a proper flagship, a car that may take the form of a two-door sports car.

Apparently, the model will come in both coupe and convertible forms, riding on the MEB electric car platform. We know absolutely nothing about what the model might look like but we're really hoping for a modernised Karmann Ghia.

Volkswagen could recycle some of the design from its BlueSport concept, which was revealed in 2009 but never put into production.

VW will use a new generation of batteries in the sports car, trickled down from the ID.R prototype racer. Even the ID.R name will allegedly be reused.

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But we hope that Volkswagen recreates the gorgeous Karmann Ghia for the 21st century instead.

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The ID.R prototype racer will donate its name and battery tech to the road-going rangetopper, while the dual motor powertrain could offer enough guts to rival the upcoming Tesla Roadster.

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Speaking to Autocar UK, Sven Smeets, VW's motorsport director, said the 'new performance-based battery' is being developed in-house at the German car maker for future ID.R road cars. These batteries won't be related to the packs found in the ID.3 hatchback.

It will also get the powertrain from the upcoming ID.4 crossover, meaning one motor per axle for all-wheel drive. While the ID.4 is still a bit of a mystery machine, the ID.R should push the dual-motor powertrain quite far.

Autocar UK reckons it could even be as fast as Tesla's second-generation Roadster, which stunned Tesla fans a few years ago when it was revealed at the Tesla Semi event.

Early performance claims say the Roadster will hit 100 in around two seconds, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk said buyers will be able to specifiy a unique 'SpaceX' package, which adds ten cold gas thrusters around the car to improve handling.

Volkswagen's sports car could also provide the basis for the future all-electric Audi TT. It won't be reused by Porsche, though, which is working on an electric Boxster variant.

That model will reportedly ride on a version of the PPE architecture currently employed by the Taycan.

The road-going ID.R is still well in its infancy, with reports saying we should expect to see a full debut in 2025 at the earliest.