Volkswagen’s Upcoming Electric Hatchback To Have Sedan-Like Interior Space

Volkswagen’s electric sub-brand I.D. is expected to see an addition by 2019 with the launch of a new electric hatchback. In the same breath, the company is also aiming to sell around 100,000 EVs per year in 2020 and ten times that just five years.

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Earlier reports had suggested that an electric hatchback was being developed by the company which will measure close to the company’s flagship hatchback, Golf. However, Volkswagen has now revealed further details of its first electric hatchback.

The new hatchback is based on Volkswagen’s Modular Drive Electric Matrix aka MEB. The EV centred platform calls for a longer wheelbase which is expected to provide the new hatchback with as much interior space as the Passat.

Speaking to Auto Express, VW’s Head of Product Line for E-Mobility, Christian Senger said “We will have three different ranges of I.D. hatchback, to allow for people with different budgets. The entry-level car will have a WLTP range of 330km (205 miles), and it will also have more limited performance. If people want a faster car then I don’t want them coming back after three months telling me that it’s fast but that the range is too short. So if you want a fast car, you’ll need a bigger battery – simple.”

Reports suggest that the new hatch with the MEB platform will sport an unusually long wheelbase of nearly 2.83 meters that are more than 20cms longer than that of Golf. It will offer two forms of AC charging i.e. 7.2kW and 11kW – plus DC charging at up to 125kW.

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Referring to a prototype that was showcased earlier at a launch event, the new hatch will be VW’s first permanent online vehicles enabling a range of services that the owners can avail including cloud services and over-the-air updates similar to the way Tesla does.

The hatch will be built at the company’s facility in Zwickau where it is investing nearly 1.2 billion euros.

(Image source: Auto Express)