Volkswagen: ID.2 becomes ID. Polo

The shift had been hinted at for some time – VW’s top management, including brand chief Thomas Schäfer, had repeatedly dropped clues. While there were already strong indications that the first model would be the ID.2, the exact launch remained unclear. Schäfer had pointed out that the iconic VW names cannot simply be applied to any electric car. The principle: if it says Golf, it must deliver Golf.

With the upcoming small electric car, Schäfer now seems confident that the condition is met and is adding the names of well-known combustion-engine models to the fully electric ID. family.

“Our model names are firmly anchored in people’s minds. They stand for a strong brand and embody characteristics such as quality, timeless design and technologies for all,” Schäfer said. “That’s why we’re moving our well-known names into the future. The ID. Polo is just the beginning.”

The ID. prefix, Volkswagen added, “stands for advanced technologies and electric mobility.”

That has several implications. Firstly, it now seems certain that the ID.3 could become the ID. Golf, the ID.4 the ID. Tiguan, and the ID.7 the ID. Passat. Secondly, it means VW will have models with very similar names in the future, but which share little beyond name and size – the Polo and the ID. Polo are built on different platforms and even on different continents.

The days of the EV-specific GTX badge are also numbered: “We are bringing one of our strongest brands, the GTI, into the electric world,” said sales board member Martin Sander. “Also launching in 2026, the ID. GTI Concept model will go into production as the ID. Polo GTI. It will offer outstanding dynamics and plenty of driving pleasure.”

At the IAA, VW will not yet show production versions of the two models, only camouflaged, near-production studies. For the ID. Polo, VW uses colours inspired by the iconic Harlekin special edition Polo from the 1990s. Yet the visible elements closely resemble the 2023 ID.2all concept – VW has largely stayed true to its promise, bringing much of the concept’s design into production. This is not simply the 2023 model with a new wrap: the passenger side now shows the charging port between front wheel and door, which VW had omitted on the ID.2all.

However, there is a caveat: VW may have kept its word when it comes to design, but it will probably not meet its schedule. It was announced that the production version of the small car would be launched in 2025. However, there will be no world premiere of the ID. Polo as a production model at the IAA, only the name and a new concept car. VW is promising a world premiere in May 2026, with the market launch not scheduled until autumn.

VW has also not released any new information about the technology behind the ID. Polo; for now, we will have to make do with the new name. The 2023 concept car was specified with 166 kW of power and a range of up to 450 kilometres according to WLTP. At least VW has made it clear that the 166 kW model will be the ID. Polo GTI. The German carmaker has yet to reveal how powerful the ID. Polo will be. VW only confirmed that the ID. Polo will always be a four-door model “with two different battery sizes and three, and later four, power levels” – and the base price of the entry-level model will be less than 25,000 euros. The base model will probably have an LFP battery and a shorter range – the 450 kilometres are only possible with the larger and more expensive NMC battery. However, VW will not be cutting corners too much on the equipment, even in the €25,000 model: the DC charging function is fitted as standard. And in other respects, too, the ID. Polo is expected to offer technologies from higher classes, such as the latest version of Travel Assist, but probably only at an extra cost.

More technical details may be available on Sunday, when VW plans to unveil the ID. Cross Concept study, the long-awaited small SUV based on the ID. Polo, a day before the IAA opens. There is already a name for the production model: “The production version of this concept vehicle – the ID. Cross – will be launched at the end of 2026 as the electric counterpart to the T-Cross,” VW said.

The launch of the electric small cars ID. Polo, ID. Cross, and later the production version of the €20,000 ID.EVERY1 (likely to be called ID. Up!) marks a crucial phase for VW. Lower-priced models will make electric cars accessible to a wider customer base, driving long-awaited growth.

“All new models show clearly that Volkswagen is responding even more closely to customers’ feedback. This is evident, among other things, in the higher level of quality with soft materials, the intelligent combination of digital and physical controls such as buttons and knobs in the steering wheel and cockpit, as well as the intuitive operating concept,” VW added.

Source: Information per e-mail

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.