Volkswagen is gearing up to introduce the ID. Every1, an all-electric city car designed specifically for the European market. Positioned as the spiritual successor to the Up, this model is described as the ‘last piece in the puzzle’ for Volkswagen’s electric vehicle lineup.
The ID. Every1 is slated to become the entry point to Volkswagen’s range of bespoke electric ID models. The production version will utilize a modified version of the new front-wheel-drive MEB Entry platform, a base also underpinning the forthcoming ID.2, ID.2X, Cupra Raval, and Skoda Epiq models. Volkswagen aims to begin production in Europe.
Volkswagen has set an ambitious goal to deliver an ‘affordable’ electric car priced around £17,000 (Rs 17.32 lakh) by 2027, with the ID Every1 concept representing a key step toward that objective. Volkswagen Group CEO, Thomas Schäfer, has highlighted the ID Every1 as the ‘last piece of the puzzle’ in its mass market lineup.
The ID Every1 will incorporate a ‘fundamentally new’ zonal software architecture developed in collaboration with American EV start-up, Rivian. According to Volkswagen development chief Kai Grünitz the styling is a modern take on the Up’s overall appearance. The car will feature a new electric motor, producing 94bhp, with a claimed top speed of 81 mph (130 kph). Volkswagen projects a range of ‘at least’ 155 miles (250 kilometers).
Design-wise, the ID Every1 concept offers a preview of the production model’s potential aesthetics. The design boasts chunky, upright proportions reminiscent of the Up, with large LED headlights and a rounded front end that Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt describes as having ‘a slightly cheeky smile’. The concept incorporates sculpted wheel arches and 19-inch wheels. Design elements, such as the C-pillar, are intended to evoke the first-generation Golf.
Measuring 3,880mm in length, the ID Every1 slots between the Up (3,600mm) and Polo (4,074mm). The ID 2all concept, positioned above it, measures 4,050mm. The car is designed as a four-seater, offering a 305-liter boot, a significant increase over the Up’s 251 liters.
The interior features a minimalist layout, highlighted by a prominent touchscreen display. Physical buttons have been retained for temperature, heating, and volume controls. Furthermore, the front passenger can utilize a multi-purpose panel for attaching items like a tablet or shelf, with a removable Bluetooth speaker found between the driver and passenger seats. The center console incorporates pull-out shelving, and its design, similar to the ID Buzz, can slide between the front and rear compartments.
The ID 1 will be the first model in the VW Group to use a “fundamentally new” zonal software architecture from its new JV with American EV start-up Rivian.
Grünitz has emphasized the ‘customer-defined vehicle’ approach of the ID Every1, underscoring the industry’s increasing focus on vehicles designed around their software architecture. The new software system, based on technology used in Rivian’s R1T pick-up and R1S SUV, will be adaptable, with potential for expansions and additional features for higher-end models.
Volkswagen has indicated that the production version of the ID Every1 will be manufactured in Europe, and although a specific plant has yet to be chosen, it could potentially be produced alongside the ID 2 and related models in Spain. The forthcoming ID 2 X crossover is planned for unveiling later this year, possibly at the Munich Motor Show.
