Could This Be America's Volkswagen Golf Replacement?

May. 08, 2019 12:10 PM ET by Martin Bigg / 4 Comments

The Golf GTI and Golf R will remain on sale, but the standard model is being axed in America.

Later this year, Volkswagen will reveal its first ever fully electric car, the ID. hatchback, at the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. With preorders for the electric hatchback now live in Europe, Volkswagen has finally confirmed it will be called the ID.3. The automaker has also released new photos of the ID.3, giving us our clearest look yet at the production model.

As expected, the all-electric vehicle will look very similar to the concept unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The prototype shown in the photos is covered in a blue and red livery, with many design elements left undisguised. For example, we get to see the production model's headlights for the very first time, which incorporate LED daytime running lights on the outer edges of the headlight units.

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Volkswagen's first fully electric car will be offered with three battery configurations. The entry-level version will be powered by a 48 kWh pack offering 205 miles of range, while the mid-range model will deliver 280 miles. A range-topping 111 kWh version, on the other hand, will have 342 miles of range. All three models will have a rear-mounted 168 hp electric motor powering the rear wheels.

Question is, will the Volkswagen ID. hatchback be available in America? Initial reports claimed that VW isn't planning to sell it Stateside due to the lack of demand for small hatchbacks. Instead, the first VW ID. model launching in America will be the production version of the ID. Crozz in 2021. However, a recent report by InsideEVs claims the ID. hatchback could eventually come to America if there is enough demand.

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During the Petersen Automotive Museum's Future of the Automobile conference in Los Angeles, Volkswagen America's Klaus Bischoff said the ID. hatch could come to the US "if Americans want it." He made sure to add, "In theory, the ID. hatch could come here."

Don't forget, too, that Volkswagen is planning to scrap the standard Golf in America. While the high-performance Golf GTI and R models will remain on sale, it seems likely the ID. hatchback will fill the void and replace the regular Golf in America if it goes on sale outside of Europe. After all, it has similar proportions and near-identical headlights to the current Golf. Naturally, the ID. hatchback would also replace the e-Golf since it would make little sense for VW to sell two electric hatchbacks in the US.
Check more information about VW electric cars.

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Could This Be America's Volkswagen Golf Replacement?

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Could This Be America's Volkswagen Golf Replacement?

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