Cupra’s Raval baby EV is testing in Europe ahead of its September reveal.
The €25k subcompact hatch is twinned with the VW ID.2 and Skoda Epiq.
Disguise covers the real triangle-shaped headlights and huge lower grille.
VW has reportedly delayed the launch of its vitally important ID.2 electric hatch from 2025 to 2026, but we’ll still learn plenty about it this fall because Cupra is pushing ahead with the reveal of the Raval, its version of the ID.2, which is seen here during testing.
The Raval, ID.2 hatch, an ID.2 crossover and Skoda’s upcoming Epiq SUV are all built around a new, shorter version of VW’s MEB electric car platform. In addition to being resized to suit cars smaller than the Golf-sized ID.3, the tiniest of VW’s current EVs, the new architecture also places a single motor at the front driving the front wheels, the reverse of the main MEB platform where the motor is at the rear.
Both the Raval and ID.2 have been shown in concept form powered by a single 223 hp (225 PS / 166 kW) electric motor, and VW’s ID.GTI concept teased a 429 hp (435 PS / 250 kW) dual-motor configuration. However, most versions of both cars will be packing far less firepower because the key draw of the Raval and ID.2 won’t be big power figures but a low starting price: the pair is expected to start at around €25,000 (£21k, $29k).
To hit that target, the base models will reportedly come with a small 38 kWh battery whose 186-mile (300 km) range will make it best suited to urban work, while an available 56 kWh pack will be capable of running 273 miles (440 km) between charges. A 125 kW peak charge capacity means a 10-80 percent fill should take around 20 minutes.
This Raval prototype hasn’t dropped much disguise since we last saw one, but the close-up shot of the front end reveals plenty about how the finished car will look when the covers are pulled off at the IAA auto show in Germany this fall. Poking out from behind the fake headlight stickers are the real lights, which appear to be triangular, and different in shape to the ones seen on the Raval concept car.
The close-ups also show that Cupra’s engineers have tried to obscure both the vertical air vents at each corner and much of the large black grille with white-painted plastic. Another deviation from the concept is the hood, which is more inset and has a pronounced M-shape at its leading edge, a result of the V8-style twin hood bulges.
In keeping with its more flamboyant design, the Raval should also be a little sharper to driver than the ID.2 courtesy of Cupra’s traditionally more aggressive suspension setup. So, if you were in the market for a small EV, would you go for the Raval or wait for the ID.2?
A new report suggests Volkswagen is considering a tri-motor ID.2 R with 400 hp.
This model could surpass the Golf R in performance and handling capabilities.
Spy photographers captured the standard ID.2, expected to arrive next year.
Volkswagen previewed the upcoming ID.2 GTI with a concept at the 2023 Munich Motor Show, and a new report suggests it could be followed by a hardcore ID.2 R. If things pan out, it could be even more powerful than the 2025 Golf R.
According to a report from Autocar, the German carmaker is considering an ID.2 R as part of a wider effort to “explore the potency and torque-vectoring potential of hub motors.” While the model hasn’t been approved at this point, it could have a high-tech powertrain that mixes ‘old’ with new.
In particular, the car could use the front-mounted motor from the ID.2 GTI. It could be joined by two rear in-wheel motors, giving the hot hatch a tri-motor all-wheel drive system. The report suggests we can expect an output of around 400 hp (298 kW / 406 PS), which would eclipse the 328 hp (245 kW / 333 PS) Golf R.
Besides packing plenty of power, the tri-motor powertrain would allow for impressive handling. This would reportedly be aided by “predictive torque distribution, brake-based yaw control, and dynamic drive modes.”
Little else is known about the car at this point, but it would likely feature the usual R upgrades. As a result, we can expect unique interior and exterior styling as well as a sportier driving experience.
ID.2 Continues Testing
SHProshots
Spy photographers recently snapped an ID.2 prototype disguised as a Polo and now they’ve caught another car in the Alps. Dressed in traditional black and white camouflage, the model follows in the footsteps of the ID.2all concept but features a heavily revised front end.
The changes immediately stand out as the road-going model has a taller hood and more traditional headlights with top-mounted DRLs. We can also see a revamped bumper with a wide intake and vertical air curtains.
The profile is virtually identical to the concept, although the lower door treatment is a tad more conservative. Elsewhere, there are larger side mirrors and an evolutionary rear end.
When the ID.2all concept was introduced, Volkswagen was planning to introduce the production model in 2025 with a base price of less than €25,000 ($28,747). While the car is now expected to arrive in 2026, Volkswagen billed it “as spacious as a Golf” and “as affordable as a Polo.”
It’s slated to ride on the new MEB Entry platform and the concept had 223 hp (166 kW / 226 PS) as well as up to 280 miles (450 km) of range. However, the production model will presumably be offered in multiple configurations.
VW’s ID.2 has been spied with production bodywork for the first time.
The grille and even the rear door handles are Polo-mimicking stickers.
The front-wheel drive electric hatch goes on sale in 2026, priced from €25k.
Volkswagen’s long-anticipated ID.2 electric hatchback has been snapped for the very first time with its production body giving us a glimpse of what will become the brand’s most affordable EV yet when it debuts, possibly late this year. That title may be short-lived though, as VW is already planning an even cheaper and smaller model, the ID.1, set to follow within a year or two of the ID.2’s debut, or whatever name the company ultimately gives it.
Previous sightings of the ID.2 were actually of early-stage mule prototypes based on the bigger ID.3, but this ID.2 prototype has the real sheet metal. Not that VW wants you to know it. The German automaker pulled its usual trick of adding stickers to disguise the secret EV as an existing VW car, in this case the sixth-generation Polo.
The upper and lower grilles on this test car, as well as the front and rear headlights, have all been altered through the use of stickers. Even the rear door handles are stickers – the real ones are hidden in the door frame above the window line.
Once you know what you’re looking for though, it’s not hard to see that the ID.2all concept’s slim grille, horizontal rear light bar, and classic VW arrow-shaped rear quarter panel are all present underneath the slim disguise.
The muscular fenders, wheels stuffed right into each corner, and kicked-up swage line have made the transition from auto show to street, but the production ID.2’s hood is shorter, separated from the grille/badge by a plastic panel, which helps cut repair costs in a minor front-end crash.
Built on VW’s Entry-Level EV Platform
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The ID.2 is the first of a family of small VW EVs built around a new entry-level version of the automaker’s MEB electric car platform. While single-motor versions of existing MEB cars like the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.Buzz are rear-wheel drive, the ID.2, its SUV spinoff, and even smaller ID.1 will be front-wheel drive.
They’ll also switch from today’s NCM battery to a cheaper LFP type to help bring the cost of the ID.2 down to around €25,000 and enable VW to battle a raft of new low-cost EVs being launched in Europe by its rivals.
A GTI Variant, But Probably Not This One
VW has even vowed to give us an ID.2 GTI, showing us an ID.GTI concept back in 2023, and this prototype’s forged wheels, roof spoiler, and sporty bumpers give us an idea of how it might look. However, the GTI concept had an even more extreme body kit, and that, together with this prototype’s smallish front brake setup and leads us to think we’re looking at a less extreme ID.2.
But don’t expect it to be called that when it arrives. VW is dropping its ID badges and giving the production ID.2 and its siblings real names.
VW CEO Thomas Schafer has promised a “whole group” of upcoming GTI models.
The new GTI models will be based on VW’s electric lineup and “mind-blowing” to drive.
Schafer has tested prototypes of the electric Golf GTI, with the ID.2 GTI arriving first.
Nearly fifty years ago, Volkswagen changed the hatchback world forever with the Golf GTI. The “GTI” moniker stood for Grand Touring Injection, a nod to the four-cylinder engine’s fuel injection system at a time when carburetors still ruled the roads. A lot has changed since then, but one thing remained constant: GTIs were powered by gas. Well, it looks like that’s about to change.
Volkswagen is now working on the next era for the GTI sub-brand, one that will see the performance label expanding into a variety of segments with new models. However, unlike what we’re used to, all future GTI offerings will feature fully electric powertrains, with VW promising to deliver a “mind-blowing” driving experience.
The company has already confirmed the production version of the ID.2 GTI, with plans to follow it up with the next-generation Golf GTI. But those two won’t be the only GTI-branded models. According to Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer, these electric hot hatches will “start a whole group of GTIs,” hinting at even more electric performance models on the horizon.
The Electric GTI Revolution
While Schafer didn’t dive into specifics, there have been rumors about an ID.3 GTI, along with the possibility of an entry-level ID.1 GTI, assuming there’s enough demand for the slightly larger ID.2 GTI, which is set to arrive first. And let’s not forget about the potential for performance versions of VW’s electric SUVs, which have already proven their chops with the GTX models.
Schafer, speaking with Autocar, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the electric Golf GTI’s development. While the current gasoline-powered version of the hot hatch is expected to run “very well into the end of this decade,” Volkswagen is already testing prototypes of its fully electric successor, which will be built on the new SSP platform.
Schafer, who’s taken some GTI prototypes for a spin, says that an electric Golf can still offer an exciting, authentic experience. He describes the new setup as “mind-blowing,” promising that the electric hot hatch will be “a monster car.”
He also emphasized that the aim isn’t just to make it fast, as VW wants to make sure the electric GTI models feel distinct from their standard counterparts. Expect upgrades in sound and handling, along with the inevitable performance improvements.
This lines up with comments from VW’s technical boss, Kai Grunitz, who noted that electric GTIs will be about more than just raw power. The focus, he says, will be on “drivability,” ensuring that these models aren’t just fast, but fun.
A 2026 Debut?
While Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed a debut date for the first electric GTI, it could arrive in 2026, which would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the original Golf GTI. With the ID.2 (or whatever VW decides to name it) set for release next year, it’s possible the first electric GTI will be unveiled next summer during the GTI festival in Wolfsburg. Looks like the future of hot hatches might be electrifying, after all.
Future VW EVs will drop the ID prefix and adopt more traditional names.
The announcement was made by VW Brand Board Member Martin Sander.
The change will start with the production version of the ID. 2all in 2026.
The German auto industry seems to be in the midst of an identity crisis. No, really. Mercedes has decided to ditch its EQ label for its EVs, BMW’s “i” series is about as consistent as a toddler on a sugar high, and Audi’s odd/even naming plan was clearly just a suggestion. Now, it’s Volkswagen’s turn to throw its own wrench into the mix and rethink its entire naming strategy.
In an effort to simplify its lineup and make it more accessible, Volkswagen is planning to phase out the “ID” prefix that’s become synonymous with its electric vehicles. Starting as soon as 2026, the company intends to replace this alphanumeric branding with more traditional car names. Though details are still scarce, the change is meant to address growing confusion in the market around these designations.
The ID sub-brand was launched in 2017 with the concept version of the ID.3 hatchback, which later became the first production model in 2019. Over the years, VW expanded its offerings, introducing the ID.4, ID.5, and ID.6 SUVs (the latter available exclusively in China), the ID.7 sedan, and the ID. Buzz minivan. The brand had plans to further expand the ID lineup with the ID.1 city car and the ID.2 supermini by 2027, but it seems the game plan is now changing.
Shifting to Familiar Names
Martin Sander, a member of Volkswagen’s Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing, and After Sales, revealed during an interview with Auto und Wirtschaft that the company intends to return to using conventional names for its EVs. “The cars will get proper names again,” he said. “This will become apparent when we launch new models – neither the ID. 2all nor the ID. Every1 concepts will carry these names in production.”
Although Sander did not go into detail, Volkswagen has previously indicated that established nameplates might make their way into the EV world. For instance, the upcoming ID.2, set for launch in 2026, could adopt the Polo name, celebrating the model’s 50th anniversary this year. Meanwhile, the ID.1, expected in 2027, could take inspiration from previous names like Lupo, Fox, or Up!, or even receive an entirely new name.
New Names, New Beginnings
Earlier this year, Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen’s Board Member for Technical Development, mentioned that starting in 2026, the ID models will undergo a significant facelift. This would be an ideal time for Volkswagen to start phasing in the new names for its existing EV models.
Volkswagen is also working on an electric version of the Golf, which is set to arrive toward the end of the decade, along with an electric T-Roc SUV. There’s a good chance that familiar nameplates like Passat and Tiguan will eventually be used for future electric vehicles. The challenge for Volkswagen, however, will be distinguishing the EV models from their internal combustion counterparts, which will remain in production for a few more years.
Big Sales Targets For EVs
When discussing Volkswagen’s EV sales, Sander expressed confidence, saying, “We are very satisfied with the demand. We have a high order backlog for the ID.3, and we’re already selling more ID.7s in Europe than Passats.” He also highlighted the ID. Buzz, noting that it “plays an incredibly important role for the brand, especially given the significant hype surrounding it in the U.S.”
Sander also highlighted Volkswagen’s ambitious sales targets, particularly for the upcoming ID. 2all, which is expected to launch in Europe at a starting price of €25,000 ($27,900). “With the production version of the ID. 2all, we are entering a completely different price range,” he said.
The ID. Every1, scheduled for 2027, is projected to start at an even more affordable €20,000 ($22,300). Thanks to falling battery costs and cost-cutting measures, this price point is within reach. “Everything regarding costs is being scrutinized,” Sander emphasized, noting that Volkswagen will leverage new production methods to ensure the vehicle is profitable from the start.
According to Sander, the target price of the urban EV that will be produced in Portugal will be made possible thanks to the declining cost of batteries, and extensive cost-cutting measures: “Everything regarding costs is being scrutinized. We have to leave no stone unturned and will use new production methods. Everything we change now will bring us to the point where the car will be profitable. The entire company will benefit from what we learn from this vehicle. You can’t build a project like this on hope – instead, we rely on solid success figures and plans.”
Sander also remains confident that electric vehicles will outpace internal combustion engines, stating that VW is “convinced that electromobility will prevail because electric cars are the better product”.
What About China?
Finally, the VW Board Member also touched on the competitive landscape in China, where Volkswagen’s EVs, like the ID.7, are facing pressure from lower-priced competitors. Despite the tough market conditions, the company is focused on long-term growth. “We are not buying market share,” Sander said, “but investing in our long-term strategic goals.”
“The electric car market in China is extremely competitive on price; even new models are sometimes launched by competitors with deep discounts,” he told the publication. “This also presents a challenge for the ID.7, which has been so successful in other markets. However, in this difficult environment, we are not focusing on short-term market success, but rather pursuing a sustainable growth plan.”
Volkswagen aims to strengthen its position in China starting in 2026 with a new generation of market-specific electric cars. “We are the clear market leader in China in the still highly profitable segment of vehicles with combustion engines,” Sander added. As part of its strategy, Volkswagen is gradually hybridizing its combustion engine portfolio, positioning itself to lead the transition to electrified vehicles in the region.
Ford may revive the Fiesta using Volkswagen’s MEB Entry architecture shared with ID.2
It already uses the same architecture as the VW ID.4 and ID.5 in the Explorer and Capri.
VW’s latest ID.2all Concept is just 0.7 inches (18 mm) longer than the old Ford Fiesta.
It hasn’t even been two years since the Ford Fiesta was unceremoniously retired, and yet, it may already be staging a comeback. This time around, though, the Fiesta could look very different. Instead of a traditional internal combustion comeback, the new version might arrive as part of Ford’s growing collaboration with Volkswagen, a partnership that has already produced models like the Explorer EV and Capri based on VW’s platforms.
VW’s head of sales and marketing, Martin Sander, says that the carmaker’s tie-up with Ford on EVs has already proven to be “very, very, very successful,” and is open to sharing technologies in a similar way in the future. Sander formerly worked at Ford in Europe and, as the Explorer EV and Capri use the same platform as the VW ID.4 and ID.5, Ford could conceivably develop new EVs with the same MEB Entry architecture as the ID.1 and ID.2.
Ford itself has not commented on the possibility of building a new entry-level electric hatchback, but Auto Express speculates that such a project is conceivable. Ford says it’s “confident in its ability to compete in the right segments,” so if it sees potential with an electric hatch, it may be wise to pursue it.
Looking at the numbers, the ID.2 could be a near-ideal blueprint for a new Fiesta. The ID.2all Concept is only 0.7 inches (or 18 mm) longer than the outgoing Fiesta, and it shares the same five-door layout. In terms of size and purpose, it’s almost a one-to-one match.
Of course, Ford would have to convince VW to let it use its underpinnings, even though a new Fiesta would likely snatch sales away from the ID.2, as well as the related Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq. Unless VW thinks it will get something from the deal, it’s hard to see why it would be open to it. Admittedly, if a new Fiesta were sold in markets where the ID.2 won’t be, that would take away the threat of it stealing sales.
Meanwhile, Ford isn’t sitting still. A skunkworks team inside the company is reportedly working on a new budget-friendly EV aimed squarely at emerging rivals like BYD. This upcoming model could start at around $25,000 and may feature a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which offers cost advantages and improved durability compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Regardless of the Fiesta’s return, Ford appears to be quietly assembling the pieces for a more affordable EV future, and it may not be long before we see what that actually looks like.
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