Exclusive rendering imagines VW ID3 R as specs teased by official VW IDX concept
May 20, 2021 by
Could VW be about to reveal a high-performance ID3 electric car with more than 330hp? Official images of a new IDX concept suggest the answer could be ‘yes’.
- VW ID3 R exclusive images
- High-performance future EV
- Could use dual motors from ID4
- Could produce 333hp
- 340-mile range possible
- Previewed by IDX concept
- Could go on sale in 2023
- Would cost close to £50,000
Volkswagen has already said it plans to expand the ID3 range to include a convertible version, and there’s a chance it could also produce a high-performance ID3 R electric car, too. This VW ID3 R could use the dual-motor setup of the larger ID4 EV as previewed by the IDX concept car. Read on for full details.
New VW IDX concept car revealed
This is the Volkswagen IDX, a new all-electric ID3-based concept car. It borrows mechanical bits from the ID4 GTX SUV, with 333hp on tap and a 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds.
It won’t enter production exactly like this, but it could influence the design of a future ID3 R. The Volkswagen IDX concept uses some of the mechanical bits of the ID4 GTX SUV, including its dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, as well as a larger 82kWh battery. As a result, it produces 333hp and can cover the 0-60mph sprint in 5.3 seconds
Though the bodywork of the Volkswagen IDX seems pretty untouched compared with the standard ID3, it does get a matte black paint finish with vibrant green highlights dotted around.
Those bright highlights carry through to the interior of the IDX as well. The steering wheel gets a flash of it, as do some of the trim pieces. There are floor mats with green piping too, and an ‘ID.X’ logo stitched into the part bucket seats.
New VW ID3 R design
The new VW ID3 R is expected to take a great deal of inspiration from the new Volkswagen Golf R hot hatch. As a result, it’ll tick all the must-have hot hatch boxes, including lowered suspension, larger alloy wheels, more aggressive front and rear bumpers and a few exclusive paint colours that you can’t get on the standard ID3.
It won’t have quite the same gaping front grille as the Volkswagen Golf R – after all, the ID3 R is an electric car and doesn’t need a great deal of cold air to cool a hot engine – but you can count on it having a few more contrasting black inserts than the standard ID3.
New VW ID3 R motors and performance
The fastest Volkswagen ID3 you can buy today comes with a 204hp electric motor driving the rear wheels. There’s a chance that VW could fit a second motor to drive the front wheels, bumping the ID3 R’s power to more than 300hp.
This dual-motor setup could be borrowed from the ID4 GTX, like the IDX concept, albeit with power cranked up to 333hp. This would see a 0-60mph time in the 5.3 second region.
New VW ID3 R batteries and range
The VW ID3 has a range of 340 miles if you pick the version with the largest 77kWh battery. Well, that’s what VW claims – you’ll probably see a figure closer to 300 miles in normal driving conditions. If the new ID3 R uses the same battery, its range will likely be slightly shorter because of its heavier dual-motor setup.
However, Volkswagen may be able to shoe-horn in the larger 82kWh battery from the larger ID4 electric car. This should bump the ID3 R’s range up around the same level as the 77kWh ID3.
New VW ID3 R interior
You can get the standard VW ID3’s interior in some ‘interesting’ colour combinations, including a seventies-tastic white, black and brown combo (shown above). Expect a future ‘R’ version to come with more sombre, but sportier, black and blue trim – just like in the new VW Golf R.
You can bet that the standard car’s seats will be ditched for a set of more supportive items, too, and there’ll be a healthy smattering of R logos about the place, too.
New VW ID3 R price and release date
There’s no word on whether VW will put a high-performance ID3 R into production, but if it does make the cut, it’ll likely have to wait its turn until after the ID3 Cabriolet has been officially released.
This new drop-top electric car isn’t expected to arrive until 2022 at the earliest, so there’s a chance that the ID3 R will have to wait until 2023. If it does go on sale, the ID3 R will be the most expensive version of the ID3 electric car – don’t expect much change from £50,000.
Can’t wait until then to get your hands on a new car? Check out the latest Volkswagen ID3 offers or compare the top 10 best electric cars available through carwow.
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