Volkswagen has officially unveiled its first all-new electric car concept at this Paris Motor Show, an electric hatchback model that will be able to travel more than 370 miles on a single charge.
Called the Volkswagen I.D. Electric Concept, the five-door hatchback is built on the manufacturer’s new Modular Electric Drive (MEB) architecture and is roughly the same size as today’s Golf.
373-mile battery range
Power comes from a 168bhp electric motor and a battery pack which is stored underneath the concept’s floor, and which VW says can travel a maximum distance of 373 miles.
There are no images of the I.D. Electric Concept’s interior but Volkswagen says that it can seat up to four people comfortably, thanks to the design of the battery pack which prioritises spaciousness.
Volkswagen says that the I.D. also previews upcoming driverless cars, with a steering wheel that can retract into the dashboard and an automated driving function called I.D. Pilot.
Package delivery feature
Another slightly unexpected innovation is that Volkswagen says the car will be able to take delivery of packages and parcels on its owners’ behalf when they’re not at home or not in the car.
Volkswagen says that the production version of the I.D. Electric Concept will be available to buy from 2020, and it’s estimated that fully autonomous capabilities will be available from 2025.
