Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 EVs set for Australia in 2023

Volkswagen’s electrical ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs – on sale in Europe and the US already – might lastly land in Australia earlier than the tip of 2023 if the corporate’s native division will get its approach.

Volkswagen Australia advised CarExpert right now that it had been campaigning with its international mother or father to get entry to its first pure electrical autos, manufacturing of which has been constrained.

“Globally Volkswagen is balancing provide and demand, nonetheless an electrification growth is clearly our goal in live performance with pursuing the fully-electric ID.4 and ID.5 – in actual fact we’re working to carry ahead their SOP [start of production] for Australia to the second half of subsequent yr,” a Volkswagen Australia spokesman mentioned.

There have been a collection of setbacks for Volkswagen Australia, which had initially deliberate to launch its first ID. EV fashions in 2022, then 2023, after which sometime during 2023 or 2024.

The Golf-sized ID.3 is clearly not the precedence any longer, given conventional passenger automobile gross sales are falling. There’s additionally excessive demand for the hatchback in Europe.

So the ID.4 and ID.5 form up as VW’s greatest candidates to kick off its electrical onslaught in Australia, serving as EV alternate options to the similarly-sized Tiguan. How these fashions will probably be priced and specified stays to be seen.

As a information, Volkswagen advertises an entry-level ID.4 within the UK for across the identical value as essentially the most inexpensive Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid PHEV (circa £37,000 or $64,340). Whereas direct conversions will not be the most effective indicator of native pricing, it offers you an concept of how these autos are positioned abroad.

The core ID.4 vary features a 108kW (148PS) base mannequin with 52kWh lithium-ion battery, good for 0-100 in 10.9 seconds and a WLTP-certified mixed driving vary of 342 kilometres.

There’s additionally a 125kW (170PS) single-motor variant supplied with the smaller battery, in addition to 128kW (174PS) single-motor and 150kW (204PS) dual-motor variants with a bigger 77kWh battery with 318-320 miles (511-515km) of vary.

Sitting above the core line-up is the performance-focused GTX, which will get 220kW from its dual-motor electrical drive system and quotes a driving vary of 479km from its 77kWh battery.

The mechanically associated ID.5 is simply supplied with the 77kWh long-range battery within the UK, however is out there with 128kW and 150kW core motor variants, in addition to the 220kW GTX. Within the UK an ID.5 GTX prices across the identical as an entry-level Touareg, for reference.

Each autos are primarily based on the VW Group’s MEB structure, which underpins autos just like the smaller ID.3 and Cupra Born hatchbacks, in addition to the Audi Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron and the Skoda Enyaq – the latter has been earmarked for a late-2023 introduction as well.

It’s unclear which variants of the ID.4 and ID.5 would make their solution to Australia, however given the excessive chance of restricted provide (and low quantity) in addition to native style for high-spec fashions, anticipate simply the 77kWh variations of the ID.4 to be supplied and high-spec variations of each the ID.4 and ID.5 at that.

Australia’s place as a prime marketplace for Volkswagen efficiency merchandise might see the GTX variations of the ID.4 and ID.5 be supplied in Australia early on too, however that is all to be confirmed by the corporate’s native division.

The ID.4 and ID.5 will comply with the ID.3-based Cupra Born into the Australian market, due to arrive in the early stages of 2023. Cupra has additionally crushed its German mother or father to plug-in hybrid merchandise, with the Leon hatchback and Formentor crossover each bringing PHEV variants earlier than the tip of this yr.

Talking of PHEVs, Volkswagen Australia will introduce the flagship Touareg R PHEV late in 2022 or early 2023, and has indicated plans to introduce the Tiguan eHybrid and Golf GTE plug-in hybrids not lengthy after.

Keep tuned to CarExpert for all the newest.

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