Like many of its competitors, Volkswagen has realized the best way to convince motorists to buy an EV is not to make it look weird or give it an odd name, but instead to create an EV that looks and sounds familiar. This is exactly what it’s done with the new ID Tiguan, built to replace the ID 4 and ID 5, and leaning into a more traditional SUV design that should better appeal to typical VW buyers.

Just like the Cupra Raval, VW ID Polo, and VW ID Cross, the new ID Tiguan uses the company’s latest MEB+ platform. This architecture supports three distinctive versions and two different battery packs. Sitting at the base of the range will be a rear-wheel-drive version using a 58-kWh battery. VW hasn’t provided chemistry details about this pack, nor has it said whether it’s the same usable 58-kWh pack that had been offered in North America’s ID 4. What we do know is this base model is rated at 187 horsepower.

Read: As VW Kills Off The ID 4, It Launches A $12,500 Discount In The U.S.

Positioned in the middle of the range will be a more powerful, 282 hp rear-wheel drive model with a larger 77 kWh battery. Shoppers who want all-wheel drive traction will be able to order the ID Tiguan in a single 4MOTION all-wheel drive configuration, producing a combined 295 hp and also using the 77-kWh pack.

VW says the new ID Tiguan can travel up to 373 miles (600 km) on a single charge under the WLTP cycle. This is presumably for the rear-wheel-drive, 77-kWh model, although that has yet to be confirmed. Prospective buyers of the ID Tiguan will be pleased to know the 58-kWh version can haul up to 3,968 lbs (1,800 kg), while the 77 kWh models are good for 4,409 lbs (2,000 kg).

A Fresh New Design

The ID Tiguan’s design immediately distinguishes it from the ID 4 and ID 5. VW says it uses the company’s Pure Positive design language, boosting its presence and making it look more modern. Like the ID Polo and ID Cross, which it shares its platform with, the ID Tiguan also has several design similarities to those models.

The most obvious of these is the intricate LED daytime running lights and light bar stretching the width of the front fascia. Instead of a traditional grille, VW has added a pair of black intakes near the base of the bumper. There’s nothing radical about the EV’s side profile, but the shoulder line running from the corner of the headlight, along the doors, and across the tailgate catches the eye. At the rear are an intriguing set of taillights with bold LED graphics and four narrow illuminated stripes connecting them. Glowing emblems have also been added to the front and rear of the ID Tiguan.

A Cabin With Real Buttons

Arguably more important than how the EV looks from the outside is what the interior is like. By comparison, the old ID 4 and ID 5 feel very outdated. It starts with the new steering wheel that uses physical buttons for the cruise control and audio settings, rather than the silly piano black plastic haptic switches of old.

Additionally, the ID Tiguan has a larger digital instrument cluster built into the dashboard, rather than just perched on top of it like this model’s predecessors. This cluster even includes a very cool ‘Retro’ theme which displays four traditional gauges. A larger infotainment system has also been added, although VW hasn’t mentioned how big it is. A passenger display will also be available.

Then there are the buttons. VW was almost burned at the stake for its silly touch-sensitive controls used across its outgoing generation of cars. There are none in sight with the ID Tiguan. Located under the central air vents are nine physical switches to control the HVAC, including the temperature and fan speed, all with a lovely, knurled metal finish. There’s also a small volume knob on the center console and two wireless phone chargers.

The materials throughout also appear slightly nicer, particularly the soft-touch surfaces on the tunnel and door panels, although we’ll reserve final judgment until we actually see it in person. A full range of options has yet to be announced, but VW says the ID Tiguan will be available with optional massaging, heated, and ventilated front seats, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a panoramic sunroof. It also supports a Digital Key, so owners can use their smartphone to lock, unlock, and start the EV.

VW has confirmed the ID Tiguan will launch in North America, but it’s not yet ready to say when it will arrive locally. In the meantime, pre-sales across Europe will start on October 13 with prices kicking off at €42,695 ($47,900). Deliveries will start early next year.

Sporty vans are trending, with nearly every single automaker offering some sort of optional package or special edition inspired by the aftermarket tuning scene. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has already applied the GTI-style treatment to its vans, but its Dutch division has just introduced a new option for local buyers.

The Signature Edition is an optional package available for the Transporter Bulli and the ID.Buzz Cargo in the Netherlands. Both vans feature sharper aero components, new alloy wheels, side decals, Signature Edition badges, and fresh upholstery inside the cabin making them more appealing.

More: VW’s New Van Shows Up In GTI Cosplay, But No One Told The Engine

The bodykits include splitters and rear spoilers with a carbon finish, paired with black side skirts. The grille and VW emblems are also finished in black. The same applies to the alloy wheels, measuring 19 inches on the Transporter and 20 inches on the ID. Buzz Cargo.

VW ID.Buzz Cargo Signature Edition

Inside, the package adds eco-leather upholstery on the seats with Dinamica accents, a hexagonal pattern, and contrasting stitching. Signature Edition logos can be found on the seatbacks and the dashboard. The door cards also gain Dinamica and eco-leather inserts, with the Transporter featuring the same materials on the dashboard. Finally, the vans feature carbon-style details on the steering wheel.

More: VW’s ID. Buzz Picks Up A Feature No Minivan Has Any Business Offering

Unfortunately, the sporty looks and the upmarket interiors are not combined with any performance or chassis upgrades. This means that the electric ID. Buzz and the diesel-powered or electric Transporter/e-Transporter retain their standard powertrains.

VW Transporter Bulli Signature Edition

Volkswagen is offering the Signature Edition as an optional package in the Netherlands, with a starting price of €6,495 ($7,300) before VAT. The accessories are fitted locally after the vehicle’s registration, ensuring that the upgrades won’t increase its taxable catalog value.

More: VW’s Electric Cargo Van Adds Extra Space With New Extended Wheelbase Variant

This is not the first time Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles spruces up its vans. The company is offering an even cooler VW Transporter Sportline in the UK as well as various sporty add-ons for the ID.Buzz Cargo. As for performance, the flagship ID.Buzz GTX trim of the passenger van remains the most potent member of the VW lineup thanks to its 335 hp bi-motor setup.

VW Commercial Vehicles / Netherlands

Hot on the heels of Volkswagen announcing the ID. Tiguan will replace both the ID.4 and the ID.5, the brand has announced some generous incentives to clear remaining inventory in the United States.

The most sizeable offer is for the 2025 ID.4. From now until November 2, anyone who purchases or leases a new ID.4 will receive a $12,500 ‘customer bonus’ that’s applied directly to the sticker price.

Read: VW Confirms ID. Tiguan To Replace The ID.4 And ID.5

VW’s local inventory search tool doesn’t allow you to select the model year, so it’s hard to know how many 2025 versions are sitting around at VW dealership lots across the country. What we can see is that there are hundreds of ID.4 models available across the 2025 and 2026 model years, so there’s certainly no shortage of options.

If you’re unable to find a 2025 model nearby, there’s also an offer available for 2026 ID.4s. This one is worth $6,000, and it is also available until November 2. Prices for the 2026 ID.4 start at $45,095 for the entry-level Pro excluding destination, or $46,570 including destination.

This isn’t the only offer available for the 2026 ID.4, either. Military members, veterans, and first responders can also receive a $500 discount when they purchase the outgoing EV, cutting the price even further.

US sales of the ID.4 peaked in 2023 when 37,789 units were sold but then plummeted to 17,021 units the following year. In 2025, sales rebounded to 22,373 units, but that clearly wasn’t enough to convince VW to keep selling the model for the long term. Through the first six months of this year, just 2,205 were sold, following the end of local production in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in April.

What Comes Next?

Once VW clears inventory of ID.4 models, it will be able to turn its attention to the ID. Tiguan. Lightly camouflaged prototypes have revealed it will look radically different than the ID.4 and, instead, look more similar to the gas-powered Tiguan. VW has confirmed it will start European sales of the new model at the start of next year, before launching it in the United States.

Limited technical details are known about the new ID. Tiguan, but it’s believed to be based on VW’s MEB+ platform and should be offered with new and improved battery packs. The current ID.4 is sold with 58 kWh and 79 kWh packs, providing it with a peak driving range of just 292 miles (470 km) in the US.

VW has confirmed recent reports that the ID.4 and ID.5 will be replaced by an all-new model, badged the ID. Tiguan. This new EV will be sold alongside the combustion-powered Tiguan and, following a lengthy period of development and teasing, will be unveiled in early October.

As we’ve seen from plenty of other car brands, VW has obviously decided it doesn’t need to position its electric models as completely different propositions from their combustion counterparts. By using a recognizable name for its latest EV, VW’s marketing team will no doubt be hopeful the ID. Tiguan will feel familiar to existing customers.

Watch: VW’s New ID. Tiguan Finally Stops Pretending It’s An ID.4

VW most recently adopted a similar approach with the ID. Polo, naming it after the brand’s most iconic pint-sized hatchback. In the case of the ID. Tiguan, it will land in European markets at the beginning of 2027. It will also be available in North America, although VW says it will arrive “at a later date,” without providing more details.

A More Traditional Design

Newly released photos of a lightly disguised ID. Tiguan prototype also gives us our best look at the SUV’s design. Compared to the ID.4 and ID.5 which looked completely unlike any other VW SUV, the ID. Tiguan will share similarities to the combustion-powered Tiguan.

More: VW’s Most Powerful GTI Ever Is A RWD Electric Hot Hatch

The front of the new model features sleek LED headlights and daytime running lights, in addition to a black lower grille and a pair of small air curtains on the outer edges of the bumper. Other eye-catching elements include the low-set wing mirrors, the roof rails, and the chunky door handles, vastly different than the flap-style handles of the ID.4.

Plenty of changes have also been made at the rear, including a new bumper, tailgate, and window. The taillights of this prototype don’t appear to be production-spec units.

More: Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz Comeback Slips To 2028

Interestingly, VW has released images of two different versions of the ID. Tiguan, without specifying the differences. Whereas one has small air intakes positioned at the front, the other has vertical LED daytime running lights. It also has a unique lower grille.

What About The Hardware?

The ID. Tiguan is tipped to be built on VW’s MEB+ platform. Whereas the outgoing ID.4 is available with relatively small 58 kWh and 79 kWh batteries, we’d expect this new model to get larger and more efficient packs.

“Tiguan represents a versatile, premium vehicle and embodies the essence of True Volkswagen,” VW chief executive Thomas Schäfer said in a statement. “With the ID. Tiguan, we are carrying this product promise into the electric future. The all-electric model builds on the strengths of the bestseller and offers premium design, generous space, intuitive operation and innovative technologies. Together, both models form a strong offering for our customers’ different powertrain preferences.”

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is expanding the ID. Buzz Cargo lineup with the addition of a new long-wheelbase variant. It features a more spacious interior, an increased towing capacity, and several new features.

Starting with size, the load area is 9.8 inches (250 mm) longer than the normal ID. Buzz Cargo. This allows for an additional 17.7 cubic feet (500 liters) of cargo space. The model also comes equipped with a wooden floor and a maximum payload capacity of up to 1,543 lbs (700 kg).

More: New VW ID. Buzz Unveiled As A Delicious Microbus EV In Both Passenger And Cargo Van Flavors

On the styling front, there isn’t much to report, but the LWB variant comes standard with dual sliding doors. They’re 7.5 inches (190 mm) longer than the single door on the short-wheelbase version, and this means they can accommodate a Euro pallet. The model also offers a choice between a traditional liftgate or optional rear wing doors.

The interior has two- and three-seat configurations as well as a new Innovision infotainment system with an improved app store. Other highlights include a revamped steering wheel and Travel Assist with a traffic light recognition function, which automatically brings the van to a halt at red lights. The model also has a new one-pedal driving mode and a Vehicle-to-Load function, which enables the vehicle to act as a massive battery bank.

Power comes from an 86 kWh battery pack, which can be paired with either rear- or all-wheel drive. The former has 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS), while the latter develops 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS). Regardless of the setup, the model has a maximum towing capacity of 3,968 lbs (1,800 kg).

German pricing starts at €48,490 ($55,225) and climbs to €50,630 ($57,662) for the all-wheel-drive variant. This means the extended variant costs around €2,340 ($2,665) more than the regular model before VAT.

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz comeback has hit another delay. After skipping the 2026 model year in the U.S., the electric van was supposed to return this fall as a 2027 model. VW even announced the updated lineup in May, but it turns out that the plan was a bit too ambitious. Buyers will now have to wait until the first half of 2027 for a van wearing a 2028 model-year badge.

Volkswagen informed its U.S. dealers of the change on September 24, according to Automotive News. That means the Buzz will skip two consecutive model years here. That’s an awkward turn, as the vehicle only reached American showrooms in November 2024. That’s a remarkably long pause for a van VW spent several years hyping up before it even went on sale.

Read: VW’s First Electric California Is An ID. Buzz With A Bed

The company says the changes it previously announced for the 2027 van will carry over. Those include a camping-focused Tourer trim, two-tone paint, physical buttons on the steering wheel, and North American Charging Standard capability. The 2028 model will also gain updated software, vehicle-to-load functionality, and a digital key. The brand is pitching this as a way to bring several upgrades out at the same time.

“The 2028 ID Buzz brings together meaningful customer-focused enhancements in a single launch,” the automaker said. Notably, it didn’t mention exactly what caused the delay, nor did it share any other details such as pricing. Those pieces are key because, again, this isn’t the first shift in the timeline. VW told dealers in December of 2025 that it would skip the 2026 model year before the announcement in May.

Let’s face it: this isn’t all that shocking given the industry pressures at play. Without a Federal EV tax credit, the ID.Buzz’s high price makes even less sense than it did with that discount. The van arrived some 20 years after VW initially teased the idea and did so with extremely limited range, limited trims, and a very high price. Those conditions led to just 6,140 sales during 2025 and 2,481 in the first half of this year. Now tariffs are no doubt also something VW has to consider.

That all said, it’s clear that the van isn’t dead. Americans will get what sounds like a significantly updated version in the not-too-distant future if VW can stay on track this time. Will the automaker manage to sweeten the deal so much that this big break turns out to be worth it for dealers and customers? Probably not if the price continues to climb.

Credit: VW

After 445 days, 92 countries, and six continents, a VW ID. Buzz has received a Guinness World Record for the most countries visited in a continuous journey by a BEV. What’s perhaps even more impressive than the journey itself is that the car apparently didn’t experience a single breakdown.

Rainer Zietlow drove the ID. Buzz throughout the journey, covering 62,036 miles (99,767 km), leaving Hannover, Germany, on July 1, 2025, and returning on September 14. At the end of the journey, VW’s all-electric van had retained 95.75 percent of its original battery capacity.

Read: VW’s First Electric California Is An ID. Buzz With A Bed

The ID. Buzz used for the epic road trip was the Pro model, equipped with an 86-kWh battery pack that gives it up to 309 miles (497 km) of WLTP range. While this is far from class-leading in the ultra-competitive EV space, it was enough for Zietlow to cross through countries, proving just how easy it can be to live with an EV.

This isn’t to say it was always easy to charge the ID. Buzz. In Tanzania and Zambia, there’s no public charging network, so the VW had to be charged at national substations to keep the journey going. The EV was moved across countries and continents using container ships.

Zietlow was probably especially grateful he’d embarked on the ambitious adventure with an EV rather than a combustion-powered car, as gasoline prices have soared this year. In total, they made more than 300 charging stops to keep the ID. Buzz running, with Zietlow noting that China is “in a league of its own” when it comes to charging networks and broad EV adoption.

Throughout the journey, the VW was driven across the base of Australia from Sydney to Perth, shipped over to South Africa, and driven across Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya. The trip also included Asia, crossing through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and through most of Central and Western Europe, South America, and North America.

Not satisfied with simply producing a slew of impressive new-energy vehicles in China, Xpeng wants to see foreign automakers use its advanced technologies, serving as an important new revenue stream for the company.

Xpeng already works closely with Volkswagen in China, collaborating on vehicle development and a joint architecture that is already starting to bear fruit. Moving forward, unnamed sources state Xpeng is eager to see other automakers, as well as automobile suppliers and foreign software developments use its electrical and electronic architecture, in addition to its cockpit systems, advanced-driver assistance software, and Turing AI chips.

Read: Xpeng CEO Eyes US Launch, Suggests Company Could Build Plants In America

While Xpeng is one of China’s most noteworthy electric vehicle startups established over the past couple of decades, the company is yet to reach profitability. Revenue from the sales of its vehicles remained relatively steady through the second quarter, while revenue from services and its other business ventures almost doubled, Reuters reports. It’s little wonder, then, why the company is eager to start offering its important new technologies to other firms.

Robots Are Also Getting Xpeng Tech

It’s not just selling technologies that could help Xpeng become profitable. The company recently commenced small-scale production of its IRON humanoid robot this month and will begin mass production before the end of the year. According to Xpeng chief executive He Xiaopeng, class-leading humanoid robots may generate higher margins than the company’s vehicles.

In addition to Xpeng potentially licensing its technologies to car manufacturers and suppliers, it could also license tech to robotaxi and robotics firms.

VW started production of its first vehicle co-developed alongside Xpeng in March of this year. The ID. Unyx 08 looks vastly different than any VW sold in the West and is underpinned by an 800-volt electrical architecture available with 85 kWh and 92 kWh battery packs. Rather than using VW’s own driver-assistance system, it instead uses Xpeng’s Level 2 system.

VW celebrated its GTI badge’s half-century earlier this year with the launch of the first-ever electric hatch to wear those three letters, the ID. Polo GTI. The ID.3 GTI then is only the second-ever electric GTI. But it is a pioneer in other ways. It’s the first ever VW GTI to send its power to the rear wheels, rather than the front.

Europe’s ID.3 electric hatch was overhauled in April and rebranded as ID.3 Neo. The GTI is the halo model of the new lineup and is effectively the pre-facelift GTX, but this time with a GTI badge and some design cues pinched from the ID. Polo GTI.

Related: VW’s ID. Polo Waiting List Is So Long You’ll Get A McLaren Sooner

And damn, doesn’t it look the better for it? A GTI trademark red stripe connects the IQ. Light LED matrix headlights and the gloss-black honeycomb lower grille is punctuated by a pair of red-painted elements meant to look like racecar towing eyes.

Contrasting with the launch car’s searing Tornado red paint – it’s actually a classic 1980s GTI color – are the gorgeous black 20-inch Wörthersee wheels and black mirror caps. But unlike the GTX, the GTI features a body-color roof, rear spoiler, and rear panel.

What has been carried over from the GTX is the single 322 hp (326 PS / 240 kW) electric motor, which outranks the Golf GTI Edition 50’s as the most powerful GTI engine by just one horse. Unlike the ID. Polo GTI, which uses VW’s new MEB+ front-wheel-drive platform, the ID.3 rides on the older MEB shared with models like the ID.4 and ID. Buzz.

Beats Edition 50 For Power, But Not Pace

Which means the single motor sends its power to the rear wheels, VW quoting the exact same 5.6-second zero-to-62 mph (100 km/h) time it did for the old GTX Performance. That compares with 6.8 seconds for the 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) Polo GTI and 5.3 seconds for the petrol GTI Edition 50.

A 79 kWh (net) battery under the floor can charge at 183 kW, top up from 10-80 percent in a middling 29 minutes, and gives a solid WLTP range of 373 miles (601 km). The Polo manages just 263 miles (424 km) from its 52 kWh battery.

GTI Mode

But is the GTI just a GTX with some Tornado red lipstick? VW says it’s more than that thanks to a new GTI-specific tune for the DCC adaptive dampers, springs and anti-roll bars. There’s even a GTI driving mode that shifts the motor, throttle response, steering and chassis into maximum attack mode, and is activated by pressing an illuminated button at the base of the sport steering wheel’s center boss.

You won’t find that feature in other ID.3s, or the motorsport-style 12 o’clock marker or red, black and gray bucket seats. But the GTI does benefit from the same interior upgrade regular ID.3s got earlier this year. That means higher-quality materials, clickable steering wheel buttons, and another bank of real switches under the 12.9-inch touchscreen.

One thing VW hasn’t yet revealed is how much the ID.3 GTI will set you back when it goes on sale in Europe (but not America) in early 2027. The old GTX Performance cost more than £46,000 in the UK ($62,000), placing it above the Golf GTI, and even making it more expensive than the mighty R. For some potential buyers, those cars, and the slower but roomy and fun-looking ID. Polo GTI with its circa £34k ($46k) sticker, are going to seem like tempting alternatives.

VW

Speed thrills, but VW thinks efficiency can too. The German brand has just whipped up a new hyper-frugal EV concept that channels the style and spirit of its bonkers XL1 from 2013. And the range figures are kind of wild.

Called the Mission Efficiency, the teardrop-shaped 2+2 coupe has a fairly conventional front end, but the extended bodywork tapers at the rear over an incredibly narrow track. That slippery shape and runway model-skinny 155-section tires help deliver a 0.158 Cd drag coefficient. For a bit of context, the Lucid Air, the most aerodynamically efficient production car on sale, has a 0.197 Cd.

Related: 5 Surprising Similarities Between Tesla’s Cybercab And VW’s XL1

Under the skin, the Mission Efficiency is effectively the new ID. Polo, an electric hatch that rides on VW’s MEB+ EV platform. A single 133 hp (135 PS / 99 kW) motor drives the front wheels for a 9-second zero-to-62 mph (100 km/h) time. And there’s a 54 kWh (usable) battery under the floor, which is essentially the production Polo’s 52 kWh pack but with the lifespan-enhancing safety buffer removed to squeeze out another 2.9 kWh.

But while a 138 mm (5.4 inches) taller and 722 mm (28.4 inches) shorter Polo equipped with the 52 kWh battery achieves around 5.4 miles per kWh, the concept recorded 6.48 mpkWh. On a real-world 794-mile (1,278 km) trip from VW’s Wolfsburg base to Vienna, Austria, it eked out the equivalent of 412 miles (663 km) from a single charge. Engineers also added a 370 W photovoltaic panel to the glass, which it reckons could be worth 18.6 miles (30 km) of range per day in good weather.

Who Needs Brake Fluid, Anyway?

Other efficiency-boosting tricks employed to achieve that feat include using electro-mechanical rear brakes to save weight by junking the hydraulic lines and fluid. The Polo platform is topped with an aluminium structure, and the doors, trunk and hood are made from CFRP composite. And inside, there’s no infotainment screen or even speakers, the idea being that your smartphone and a portable Bluetooth speaker will do the same job.

Will VW put the Mission Efficiency on sale? It certainly won’t be mass-produced, but ideas like the fluid-free rear brakes could possibly make it to a future production EV. And let’s not forget that VW did sell 250 examples of the original XL1.

Conceived by the VW Group’s late Ferdinand Piech as a kind of economy yin to his Bugatti Veyron’s power-crazed yang, the XL1 was built like a hypercar and featured a carbon body, carbon brakes and gullwing doors. But instead of a quad-turbo V12 it got an 800 cc two-cylinder diesel hybrid powertrain making just 68 hp (69 PS). Zero to 62 mph took 12.7 seconds.

Weirdly though, it was fantastic fun to drive. I had a go back in 2019 (pics below) and was blown away by the feel from the unassisted steering, and the kind of chassis balance you’d expect from a supercar. The ID. Polo hardware means the Mission Efficiency won’t be anything like as tactile. But its mission is even more relevant.

VW, Chris Chilton

Between 2013 and 2016, VW built 250 diesel plug-in hybrid XL1s. Capable of traveling 62 miles (100 km) on a single liter of diesel, it came to life after more than a decade of development. VW is now about to unveil a spiritual successor to the XL1, dubbed the Mission Efficiency.

The new model, created as a battery-electric vehicle, has been teased ahead of a debut this week. Like the XL1 that came before it, the Mission Efficiency aims to go as far as possible while consuming very little energy.

Read: VW’s ID. Polo Waiting List Is So Long You’ll Get A McLaren Sooner

VW will use the Mission Efficiency concept to travel from Wolfsburg to Vienna as part of what it calls a “record-setting journey.” Very little is known about what VW will do on this near-500-mile journey, but it’ll probably try to either make the trip on a single charge using a very small battery, or instead, set out to achieve a breathtaking efficiency rating.

A Modern XL1

The concept car’s design clearly draws heavily on the XL1 from just over a decade ago. Like that car, this one has a sleek, teardrop shape that’ll let it slip through the air with as little disturbance as possible.

At the front of the concept is a full-width LED light bar, along with subtle daytime running lights and an illuminated VW emblem. Sketches of the sides reveal flowing panels and wheel covers at the rear. In addition, the rear end appears to be noticeably slimmer than the front, much like the XL1. The rear features a single light bar and a glowing badge.

In a statement, VW says the vehicle’s mission is “to explore the boundaries of what is possible with a fully functional everyday vehicle that is largely based on production technology.”

Waiting an eternity for delivery of a new Ferrari or special Porsche is to be expected. But waiting almost a year for a Volkswagen Polo? That’s reportedly what some buyers of the new electric ID. Polo face after demand for VW’s affordable EV blew past expectations.

VW’s order books have already swallowed more than 30,000 European ID. Polo orders, despite customers initially having to commit without seeing the car at a dealership, let alone taking a test drive, according to German media.

Related: VW’s New ID. Tiguan Finally Stops Pretending It’s An ID.4

“The entire ID. Polo range is sold out. The waiting time is at least ten months,” the head of a major VW dealer group told Automobilwoche.

That makes ordering a bespoke ID. Polo potentially more patience-testing than ordering something vastly more exotic. McLaren Palm Beach, for instance, says a factory-ordered McLaren can take anywhere from “eight weeks to six months,” although it cautions that exact delivery dates can’t be guaranteed.

Order Today, Get It June 2027

Of course nobody is genuinely cross-shopping an ID. Polo and a McLaren. One costs €24,995 ($32,400 / £23,945) and the other around 10 times as much. But the comparison highlights how unusual a 10-month queue is for a mainstream small car.

VW says it’s now increasing output at its Martorell factory in Spain, though customers unwilling to wait may find pre-configured cars sitting at dealerships. A dealer told Automobilwoche that cars ordered now might not arrive until May or June of 2027.

Same Platform, Similar Wait Times

And the VW brand isn’t alone in having this particular problem. Sister company Skoda has reportedly collected more than 35,000 orders for its related Epiq (above), while dealers say Cupra’s Raval (below) is also booked out for months. Both share their single-motor, front-wheel drive MEB+ hardware with the ID. Polo, and are also built at Martorell. All three are part of the VW Group’s plan to bring EV prices closer to traditional combustion-powered small cars in an effort to fend off Chinese opposition.

The related ID. Cross SUV is also reportedly attracting plenty of early interest too, while the facelifted ID.3 Neo is facing waits of two to three months. That’s all good news for VW, and boy could it use some right now. It’s cutting 100,000 workers, shutting multiple plants, and looks likely to kill off the Seat brand after 2030 in an effort to turn around its fortunes.

VW, Skoda, Cupra

Like so many other legacy brands, VW has stopped pretending its EVs need to exist as a separate species from the combustion cars parked beside them, with their own naming logic and their own marketing language. That rethink is why the replacement for the ID.4 and ID.5 is expected to show up wearing an ID. Tiguan badge rather than another number, and why the car underneath the badge looks set to change more than the name suggests.

Our spy photographers have snapped the new electric SUV testing on several occasions, most recently back in June, wearing the body of the ID.4. This triggered speculation that the new model wouldn’t be a dramatic departure from the ID.4 and ID.5 it’s designed to replace, which was a bit of a shame. It seems VW was fooling us all.

Read: VW’s ID. Tiguan Will Be So Much More Than A Facelifted ID.4

The crew from YouTube channel Autogefühl was recently given an up-close look at the new EV, and it bears little resemblance to those earlier prototypes. This camouflaged example, which appears to be wearing production-ready sheetmetal, breaks cleanly from the ID.4 and carries a more muscular, upright stance than the current Tiguan.

Visible at the front of this prototype are a distinctive LED light bar, unique DRLs, and distinctive headlamps. It also lacks a traditional front grille, making do with a blacked-out lower grille. We’re not provided with a good look at the sides of the vehicle, but we can see it also has unique windows and black roof rails.

The rear end is also a dramatic departure from the ID.4 and ID.5. For example, it ditches the curvy taillights of those models in favor of more muscular ones, each rocking two square-shaped lighting signatures. Positioned in the center of the rear bumper is a larger black element.

Carscoops understands the new electric ID. Tiguan will use the new MEB+ platform, likely joined with upgraded batteries compared to the current model’s 58 kWh and 79 kWh packs. VW would also be wise to boost peak DC charging speeds beyond the current 175 kW to rival new offerings from China.

Lead image: Autogefühl / YouTube

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has used the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon to introduce the new ID. California Cruise. It’s based on the ID. Buzz Pro and is the first fully electric California variant.

Available with either a short or long wheelbase, the van is instantly recognizable as the only exterior changes are California lettering on the liftgate and “California Cruise” decals on the sides. However, once you get to your destination, you can install front window vents or blackout curtains.

More: VW’s Fix For Heavy Campervans Is An Inflatable Kitchen

Speaking of preparing for sleep, the van features a rear platform that houses a tri-fold mattress. It’s 3.5 inches (9 cm) thick and measures 80 inches (2,030 mm) long by 47.2 inches (1,200 mm) wide. Volkswagen says two people can sleep comfortably on the mattress, although the interior setup looks a little awkward.

To ensure you’re comfortable at night, the van has a retained power function that enables the battery to continue operating interior lights, USB charging ports, and the climate control system. Volkswagen said it can work up to 48 hours, but the exact time largely depends on the battery’s starting charge and the outside temperature.

Since camping isn’t much fun if you’re cooped up inside, the ID. California Cruise comes with two camping chairs and a table. They’re stored beneath the rear platform and appear to be housed in a zippered bag.

Rounding out the highlights are “exclusive seat covers in the ‘Miwo’ design with an integrated California wordmark.” Volkswagen also noted the van has a vehicle-to-load function, which makes camping far more enjoyable as it turns the van into a giant power station that provides up to 2,000 watts of juice. This means it can power everything from coffee makers to coolers and electric cooktops.

The ID. California Cruise arrives early next year and German pricing starts at €60,761 ($70,813). Volkswagen also teased additional California EVs are coming by 2028.

While the ID. California Cruise isn’t coming stateside, Americans will get a similar ID. Buzz Tourer 4Motion. It features a fold-out mattress, front ventilation panels, and window blinds as well as an exterior table and chairs.