The Volkswagen Up is history – actually. But now the tide could be turning. Because VW needs affordable electric cars in order not to endanger the core of the brand and not to lose touch with other car manufacturers. The popular small car could then make its way back from the siding.
Return of the e-Up? VW man reveals details about cheap electric vehicles
At least that’s what the VW brand’s head of technical development, Kai Grünitz, thinks. He told the British magazine Autocar Plans for the ID.1 from VW expressed, which should be located below the upcoming ID.2. Target price: under 20,000 euros.
Accordingly, the first design sketches for the ID.1 are already available and development is underway. Because the price range is so low, there will be clear similarities between the new small electric car and the previous Up, Grünitz indicated, according to Autocar: “In terms of usage, the car is close to the Up.”
“There aren’t that many options for designing a small vehicle for the city when it comes to what it looks like.” Functionality and design would correspond to the Volkswagen DNA, “but at a lower price”.
The name Up is not mentioned by Grünitz. But his statements about VW DNA lead to the conclusion that VW – as with the Golf, Passat and Tiguan, and perhaps also with the Polo – will rely on its old, well-known model names.
For Grünitz, the ID.1 is a car for new customers who also drive almost exclusively in the city. It has to be so cheap that longer distances are practically impossible because the battery costs would otherwise be too high.
It wasn’t long ago when the e-Up was still a small flagship for VW:
VW e-up!: electric car for the city
VW has to save money for ID.1 at a cheap price
The equipment will also be minimalist. VW could do this, for example Completely forego an infotainment display. Instead it will just be this Smartphone connected and to the central control element. The youngest Up had already done this – another parallel to the ID.1? High charging and engine performance is also not to be expected. That didn’t play a big role in the Up.
It is hardly possible to make money under these savings requirements. According to Grünitz, it is not important whether the ID.1 or the new Up is worthwhile. He is sure that VW needs an electric car under 20,000 euros, even if it does other models finance it with their profits would have to. This is also a problem that the old Up had for years.
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