Volkswagen has announced the latest addition to its growing electric car lineup with the unveiling the all-new ID.5 SUV – a sporty model which will compete with Tesla’s Model Y.
The crossover coupe-SUV will be available to order early next year, with prices set to start from around £47,000 – some £7,000 less than Elon Musk’s electric rival.
The 77kWh battery promises a range up to 323 miles between charges. A GTX version with better performance will also be available in showrooms, though with a slightly shorter range.
It was released as the UK’s auto trade body stated that the massive rise in demand for EVs over the past months will lead to pure-electric cars surpassing diesel next year.
Tesla, watch out: Volkswagen’s new ID.5 GTX and sporty ID.5 GTX (pictured), have Elon Musk’s Model Y in their headlights as the battle for the sporty electric SUVs heats up
It is priced at a reasonable price and has coupe-like styling. It will compete with other zero-emission vehicles such as the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, BMW iX3, Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, and the rakish Kia EV6.
The ID.5 SUV is a stylish version of the ID.4.
While the more traditional ID.4 starts from £35,000 in the UK, the lowest-priced variants use a smaller 52kWh battery.
The most comparable model is the ID.4 Family, which shares the same 77kWh unit as the ID.5 and starts from £45,535 – some £1,500 less than what the latest ID car is expected to begin from.
The latest addition to the plug in family, like the ID.4 hatchback and ID.3 hatchback, will be powered by VW’s MEB platform. It will be manufactured at Zwickau’s German manufacturer.
Although the ID.4 shares the same dimensions as the ID.5, the ID.5’s sleeker silhouette allows it to cut through the air more efficiently. The ID.5’s maximum range of 323 MPG is one mile greater than its sister model.
The VW ID.5 was presented in Dresden, Germany. This will be its first crossover electric SUV-coupe.
The crossover coupe-SUV will be available to order early next year with prices set to start from around £47,000 – some £7,000 less than Elon Musk’s electric rival
The latest addition to the plug in family, like the ID.4 hatchback and ID.3 hatchback, will be powered by VW’s MEB platform. It will be manufactured at Zwickau’s German manufacturer.
Every ID.5 will include a new active shutter at the front grille.
This will automatically close the panel’s openings if cooling is not required in an effort to improve its aerodynamic performance. However, VW admits that any improvement to range is minimal.
Three power options will be available starting at launch. All three use the same 77kWh battery.
The entry-level ID.5 Pro has a 172bhp electric engine at the rear axle. This motor is claimed to accelerate the SUV from 0 to 62 mph in 10.4 seconds. It has a limit speed of 99 mph.
The mid-range Pro Performance comes with an electric motor that can reach 201bhp. This reduces the time from 0-to-62mph to 8.4 seconds (top speed stays the same).
While the GTX will be the fastest ID.5 on sale, the 0-to-62mph acceleration time is still 1.5 seconds longer than the £54,990 ‘entry’ Tesla Model Y Long Range (pictured) – and some way shy of the Model Y Performance’s 3.5 seconds. The top speeds of the Tesla Model Y are also higher (135mph and 155mph, respectively).
Full-charge ranges are comparable between Model Y (pictured), and VW’s new ID.5, with Teslas offering between 298-315 miles depending on which variant you choose
For those who want the fastest acceleration with their quiet, stylish family motor, the GTX version is the best choice. It has a more aggressive bodykit, with larger bumpers, a lower grille and a bigger spoiler at its back.
It gains an additional electric motor at its front axle, which results in four-wheel drive and a power output of 295 bhp.
This wipes another 2.1 seconds off the Pro Performance’s 0-to-62mph sprint time (down to 6.3 seconds) and top speed is upped to a driving-licence-losing 112mph. This extra grunt causes more battery drain, which means that range drops to 304 mi
While the GTX will be the fastest ID.5 on sale, the 0-to-62mph acceleration time is still 1.5 seconds longer than the £54,990 ‘entry’ Tesla Model Y Long Range – and some way shy of the Model Y Performance’s 3.5 seconds. The top speeds of the US cars are also higher (135mph and 155, respectively).
Full-charge ranges are comparable, with Teslas offering between 298 to 315 miles depending upon which variant you choose.
VW says its engineers have tuned the ID.5 GTX’s chassis so it feels more performance-orientated, with lowered suspension, more powerful brakes and the option of Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers.
Anyone who has been in a Volkswagen ID car knows how comfortable the cabin is. The dashboard is dominated by a 12-inch infotainment system and a 6-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.
The ID.5’s cabin materials, which are free from any animal products, will be suitable for vegan owners, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
The VW ID.5 GTX comes with a more aggressive body kit. It features larger bumpers and a lower grille. There is also a larger spoiler at the rear. It gains an additional electric motor at its front axle, which results in four-wheel drive and a power output of 295 bhp.
Anyone who has been in an ID Volkswagen car knows how familiar the cabin is.
The dashboard is dominated by a 12-inch infotainment system and a 6-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.
The ID.5’s cabin materials, which are free from any animal products, will be vegan-friendly, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
Volkswagen has also managed a flip of the traditional switch when it comes down to practicality.
The ID.5 has a slightly larger boot, so there is less headroom for passengers in the back than the boxier ID.4.
It has a maximum luggage capacity of 549 litres, six litres more than that of the ID.
The ID.5 (right) shares the same dimensions and powertrain as the ID.4. However, its sleeker silhouette means that it cuts through the air more efficiently. Its maximum range of 323 miles (left) is one mile longer than its sister model.
Although the ID.5’s roofline is slightly lower than the ID.4, there is still plenty of headroom for passengers sitting in the back.
The ID.5 has a maximum luggage capacity of 549 litres, six litres more than its predecessor, the ID.4.
An upgrade to MEB software, which is likely to be available to ID owners via over the air update, has already added additional infotainment features and increased maximum charging potential to 135kW. This is an increase from 120kW for earlier ID.3 or ID.4.
This means that the ID.5’s battery will be able to be charged to 80 percent in just 26 minutes.
Commenting on its latest EV addition, Ralf Brandstätter, VW’s CEO, said: ‘The ID.5 is electric, sporty and elegant.
‘Our premium SUV coupé with all-electric drive marks another milestone in our Accelerate strategy.
It offers a local, carbon-neutral driving experience for a discerning customer segment. With this model, we are entering a completely new market segment.
According to a trade body, electric car sales will surpass diesels by 2022
Rising demand for greener cars means more pure-electric and plug-in hybrid cars will join Britain’s roads in 2021 than during the whole of the last decade, according to the latest forecast from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Between 2010 and 2019, a total of 271,962 brand-new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug in hybrids (PHEVs) were registered. The trade body now forecasts that businesses and consumers will take up around 287,000 of the latest zero-emission capable cars during 2021 alone – around one in six new cars bought.
Based on current forecasts BEV sales are expected to surpass diesel sales by 2022.
SMMT states that it fully expects pure-electric vehicle sales to surpass diesels in 2022
The remarkable rise in registrations is made even more remarkable by the fact that 2021 is expected not to be a strong year for new car registrations. Registrations are down about 30% on the average of the past decade, mainly due semiconductor shortages.
Mike Hawes SMMT Chief Executive said that despite only 188 new plug-in vehicles in 2010, we have almost 300,000.
He continued, “To achieve net zero by a desired date however, however, it is necessary for uptake rates to continue growing.”
“This requires ongoing incentives to consumers to make the switch, and significant investment in public charging infrastructure.
‘Backed up by the ingenuity of the automotive industry, we can then deliver zero emissions mobility that is accessible to all and affordable for all.
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