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.

Rather than combining its European emissions with the Volkswagen Group across 2026-2027, Porsche will pool its figures with Chinese automaker Xpeng, according to a new report citing analyst Matthias Schmidt. The move puts the VW Group in a stronger position to hit its targets and steer clear of expensive fines, since carving Porsche out of the group average pulls that number in the right direction.

In 2025, the VW Group’s average European emissions, Porsche included, landed at 100 g/km, above the EU’s mandate of 93.6 g/km. Miss those targets and the conglomerate could be on the hook for as much as €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) in fines across 2025-2027. As it stands, the penalty runs €95 ($109) per gram of CO2 over the limit, per vehicle.

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

Porsche would likely weigh on the broader VW Group because its local EV sales have slipped, driven mostly by softening demand for the Taycan and the all-electric Macan. The brand has also pivoted back toward combustion-powered models.

There’s no word on how much Porsche is paying Xpeng to pool their emissions, but the company has clearly decided the cost beats pushing the VW Group over the limit and eating a fine. According to Auto News, Xpeng sold roughly 19,000 EVs across Europe in the first six months of this year, up 126 percent.

The Porsche and Xpeng pool remains open so other car manufacturers can choose to enter it should they wish. Pools can be joined until December 31. Two other important pools include a Tesla one, which includes Ford, Honda, Mazda, and Suzuki, as well as a Mercedes-Benz pool with Volvo, Polestar, and Smart.

It might look odd for Porsche to team up with Xpeng, but the VW Group already has a tight relationship with the automaker in China, where the two are developing a shared architecture and several new models together.

Volkswagen’s commercial division is bringing two premieres worth a look to the Caravan Salon 2026 in Germany. The headliner is the ID. California Cruise concept, which previews an entire family of electric campers. Next to it sits a California Beach kitted out with inflatable kitchen and bed modules, the idea being that one vehicle can handle the daily commute and the weekend escape without asking you to pick a side.

Starting with the ID. California Cruise, the company has yet to publish photos but confirmed it will be based on the ID. Buzz platform. The concept is expected to go a step further than the already available Good Night kit, which adds a folding bed, window blinds, and a 48-hour climate control mode for €2,600 ($3,000).

More: VW’s $3K ID.Buzz Camping Kit Adds A Bed And Runs The A/C For Two Full Days

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

VW says the ID. California Cruise “lays the foundation for a new family of electric campervans set to arrive step by step through 2028”. The company had confirmed a California version of the ID. Buzz back in 2023, though the project stalled over worries about market demand. The rest of the details will land during Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, which runs from August 28 through September 6, 2026.

Blow-Up Camping

Alongside the electric concept, VW has revealed a pair of inflatable interior modules for the T7-based California Beach in partnership with startup Stuff Bubble. Instead of leaning on heavy, permanently mounted wooden cabinets and metal framing that eat into everyday usability, the two companies looked to kitesurfing, paragliding, and inflatable tent structures for the ultra-lightweight modular system.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

The inflatable kitchen measures 120 x 44 x 47.5 cm (47.2 x 17.3 x 18.7 in) and clips straight into the existing luggage shelf mounting rails of the California Beach. It weighs under 10 kg (22 lbs) and includes an integrated closed water circuit. A split design lets you use it inside the vehicle or pull it out and set it up at a campsite or a lakefront pitch.

More: VW Wants $72K For A Camper That Comes Without The Camper

The inflatable bed system features a breathable multi-layer construction measuring 200 x 134 cm (78.7 x 52.8 inches). It can be configured as a single bed weighing 6 kg (13.2 lbs) or a double bed weighing 12 kg (26.5 lbs). Combined with the upper pop-up roof bed, the van to sleep up to four adults.

One-Person Setup, Zero Dead Weight

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

VW claims that the kitchen and the bed can be installed and removed by a single person in a matter of minutes. The setup converts the van into a fully functional camper without forcing owners to haul around permanent additional weight during routine city driving. Furthermore, the modules can also be adapted to fit the rest of the Multivan T7 lineup, which recently gained subtle styling upgrades and new screens.

More: The New VW Caddy Gets The Golf’s Best Screen And Its Worst Touchscreen Habit

The inflatable modules will be showcased at the Caravan Salon in a California Beach. There, the automaker plans to gather customer feedback “to help shape future development” meaning we could be seeing the accessories enter production in the near future.

Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said that the new product “appeals to customers who do not want a permanently fitted interior but still want to enjoy the comforts of camping on spontaneous getaways, festival weekends or outdoor adventures.”

The fully electric VW ID. Buzz hasn’t found the audience VW hoped for in North America, and that has the company weighing some drastic options. One was a range-extender powertrain, an idea that died on packaging grounds. Meanwhile, VW is developing a new multi-energy architecture for its future LCV lineup, meant to reduce complexity and cut costs.

The ID. Buzz news comes from Stefan Mecha, CEO of VW Commercial Vehicles. Speaking to Australian outlet Go Auto, he conceded that a combustion-engined variant had been on the table: “I would not be telling the truth if I said we have not looked at this. Is this a feasible exercise? Probably not… I think from this end, the ID. Buzz is an electric vehicle and it will stay an electric vehicle.”

More: VW’s 2026 ID. Buzz Adds 335 HP And Real Buttons, America Gets Neither

The van’s short overhangs and EV-only bones left nowhere to put a range extender. The MEB architecture was built for battery electric vehicles and nothing else, so shoehorning in a combustion engine would have meant an expensive redesign.

VW moved 60,700 ID. Buzz vans in 2025, double its 2024 tally. North America accounted for just 6,140 of them, which is why the brand skipped the 2026 model year entirely to clear leftover stock. The EV returns to the US for 2027 with minor updates and a camping-friendly trim joining the lineup.

One Platform To Rule Them All

In the same interview, Mecha laid out a structural overhaul aimed at what he calls “costly platform fragmentation” across the LCV portfolio.

More: 140,000 Jobs Are At Now Risk At VW

The company currently relies on four separate platforms right now. The Caddy and Multivan T7 sit on MQB, the ID. Buzz uses MEB, the Transporter T7 shares its underpinnings with the Ford Transit Custom, and the Crafter has a larger bespoke chassis of its own.

To streamline manufacturing and R&D, Volkswagen will retool its Hanover plant and develop a new common architecture for the next decade dubbed the Space platform. This is expected to underpin the next-generation Caddy, Multivan, and Transporter lineups, and supply components for the next Crafter.

Drawing conclusions this early would be premature, but the ID. Buzz faces an uncertain future given the scale of the cuts announced across the VW Group range.

More: VW Group Is Killing Half Its Cars By 2030, And Some Big Names Are At Risk

Mecha said commercial buyers are moving to fully electric vans more slowly than expected, leaving VWCV on the hook for hefty carbon emissions penalties under European fleet rules. The Space platform was conceived as an EV architecture, but it’s being adapted to take hybrid powertrains as well.

More Electric Vans

Before the new platform arrives, VW is working on expanding its electric LCV lineup next to the ID. Buzz and the e-Transporter. One is a successor to the e-Crafter that was sold between 2018 and 2022. The updated model will likely offer a significantly longer range, improving the usability of the large van to rival the Ford e-Transit and Renault Master E-Tech.

More: VW Revives A Decades-Old Name For The Multivan, But Not Everywhere

The automaker is also considering a zero-emission variant of the Caddy. The current generation of the compact van debuted in 2020 and received a facelift in mid-2026, offering diesel and PHEV powertrain options.

It remains to be seen whether the e-Caddy will utilize an electrified version of the MQB architecture, as seen in the discontinued e-Golf, or jump into the MEB platform.

Volkswagen’s driver assistance tech in the West has never threatened the class leaders, but in China the company plans to put Level 3 automated driving in customer cars in the second half of 2027. Level 3 means the car handles the driving within set conditions and the driver stops being the moment-to-moment backup, something no VW-badged model in Europe or North America can do today.

The German automaker is working alongside Chinese firm Horizon Robotics to make it happen. The duo operate a joint venture known as Carizon and, through a strengthened deal agreed to between the companies, Horizon’s AI foundation-model capabilities will be used to develop and accelerate the creation of an advanced new AI driving solution for VW.

Read: VW Ruled China For 25 Years, Now Young Buyers Call It Their Parents’ Car

The automaker’s unified AI driving model will be trained to handle end-to-end driving tasks and, thanks to Horizon’s technologies, better anticipate the behavior of other road users, creating a safer and more reliable system.

This driving stack will be integrated within VW’s China Electronic Architecture (CEA), its first locally developed zonal electronic and electrical architecture. This will ensure the complex automated driving functions can be added to several model lines not only in China, but also in the “Global South,” according to VW.

Carizon’s L2+ ADAS already appears in several VW models sold in China, among them the ID. Unyx 07 and ID. Unyx 06, with highway Navigate on Autopilot and memory parking. An L2++ version arrives later this year, extending Navigate on Autopilot into cities and destined for seven of VW’s new energy vehicles in the Chinese market.

“China has become one of Volkswagen Group’s key innovation and technology hubs, particularly in software, artificial intelligence and automated driving,” VW Group chief executive Oliver Blume said. “Our deepened collaboration within CARIZON further strengthens our ability to develop and scale AI-based solutions for automated driving.”

Volkswagen Group Retail Deutschland (VGRD) has rolled out an “innovative salary conversion” program that enables shoppers to get discounts on electric vehicles. This isn’t pocket change as the company noted customers can save up to 50% compared to private leasing without a down payment.

The program is known as e.loop and it effectively sees employers lease a new EV for their employees with money taken out of their salary. That sounds a little convoluted, but the automaker said the employer signs an agreement with VGRD and then employees can select their desired vehicle online. “The monthly payment is deducted directly from gross income as part of a salary sacrifice arrangement, automatically resulting in a benefit in payroll taxes.”

More: VW’s New ID. Polo Starts Under $30K And Brings EVs To The Masses

Volkswagen suggests this is as simple as a four or five step process, and much of it can be done online. They went on to note the program should be attractive to employers as it enables them to take advantage of tax benefits for electric vehicles, helps retain and attract workers, and improves their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) profile. They added it requires minimal administrative effort and provides access to everything from the Volkswagen ID.3 to the Porsche Cayenne Electric.

Employees get significant savings and all-inclusive ownership. This includes the vehicle, insurance, and maintenance. Volkswagen suggests the process is relatively straight forward and the hardest choice is selecting what EV you want.

Automobilwoche says the program is similar to company bike initiatives and customers can choose between 24 or 36 month terms. The program already appears to be a hit as VGRD said interest is “very high” and officials believe the e.loop program could account for 5-10% of new cars sales in Germany by 2030.

While the program sounds like a win-win for employers and employees, there appears to be some possible downsides. The biggest is that companies could get stuck with a car after an employee leaves the organization.

Affordable electric SUVs are arriving thick and fast, but the new VW ID. Cross thinks it has something many rivals don’t. The production version of last year’s almost identical ID. Cross Concept promises premium features and VW’s confident new design language, while keeping the starting price at a tempting €28,000 (£24k/$32k).

More: VW Group Is Killing Half Its Cars By 2030, And Some Big Names Are At Risk

The little five-seat SUV brother to the ID.Polo revealed earlier this year will arrive in Europe during autumn 2026. At just over 4,150 mm (163.4 mm) from nose to tail and riding on a 2,601 mm (102.4 inches) wheelbase, the ID. Cross is a rival for SUVs like the Kia EV2 and Renault 4.

Given those dimensions and rivals you’d probably not expect tons of space, but VW claims smart packaging allows the ID. Cross to squeeze out more passenger room and cargo space than its competitors. There’s 475 liters (16.8 cu-ft) of cargo room behind the rear seats plus a handy 25-liter (0.9 cu-ft) frunk for charging cables, a combination which throws shade on the EV2, Renault 4 and even VW’s bigger, combustion T-Roc.

Buyers can choose between two battery packs and three power outputs, all delivered from a single-motor setup driving the front wheels. The entry-level version pairs an 114 hp (116 PS / 85 kW) electric motor with a 37 kWh battery, while higher trims offer either a 133 hp (136 PS / 99 kW) motor using the same battery, or a 208 hp (211 PS / 155 kW) version coupled to a larger 52 kWh pack.

From 196 To 271 Miles Of Range

The flagship combination delivers a projected WLTP driving range of up to 436 km, or 271 miles, compared with 281 miles (452 km) for an EV2 and just 247 miles (398 km) for a Renault 4. Stick with the VW‘s base 37 kWh pack and the range drops to 196 miles (316 km), which again splits the difference between its rivals: Kia, 197 miles (317 km); Renault, 190 miles (306 km). That 196-mile figure is also predictably a little down on the 204 miles (328 km) the brand quotes for the lower and 27 kg (60 lbs) lighter ID. Polo with the same 37 kWh battery.

As with the ID. Polo, charging figures are respectable rather than groundbreaking. The smaller battery supports DC charging at up to 90 kW, while the larger pack increases that to 105 kW. Either way, VW says a 10 to 80 percent recharge should take around 24 minutes under ideal conditions, meaning drivers will be unplugging a few minutes before the Renault 4 and Kia EV2s on the adjacent chargers. Vehicle-to-load functionality is also included, allowing owners to power external devices from the battery pack.

Big Screen, But Plenty Of Real Buttons

Also borrowed from the ID. Polo, which shares the same MEB+ platform, along with the Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, is a cabin that tries hard to undo some of the mistakes of VW’s recent past. Premium-looking cloth covers most of the dash surfaces, and there are genuine clickable physical buttons both on the steering wheel and lined up on the console below the 12.9-inch infotainment screen.

And buyers can build on that premium feel with some fairly premium features including optional 12-way power-adjustable front seats with built-in massage programs. Depending on trim, buyers can also spec matrix LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control, and a Harman Kardon audio system with 10 speakers.

Looks Expensive, But Isn’t

Sticking with the luxury theme, the designers clearly wanted the ID. Cross to look expensive, in the way the Mk4 Golf did almost 30 years ago. Slim lighting, clean body surfacing and a modern silhouette give it plenty of showroom appeal. It might not have the quirky character of a Renault 4, but the result is a handsome SUV that looks like it costs more than it really does.

More: VW’s Sportiest Sedan Packs 496 HP And Makes The ID.7 Look Half-Asleep

At €28,000, the base 37 kWh, 114 hp ID. Cross matches the Renault 4 on price, but beats it on range and comes up only a few horsepower short. Likely to cause a bigger headache for VW is the Kia EV2, which starts at €26,600 in Europe, squeezes a few more miles from every top-up and comes with a 144 hp (147 PS / 108 kW) motor as standard. Which would you pick?

VW

Great Wall Motor, which prefers to go by GWM these days, builds some genuinely interesting vehicles. This is not quite one of them. The Ora Ballet Cat borrows so heavily from the original VW Beetle that you have to wonder what the people behind that car would make of it.

Originally introduced back in 2022, the Ballet Cat was one of the first models introduced under the Ora brand, and is certainly the most intriguing to look at. It looks like a swollen, classic Beetle going through an identity crisis, and as if it has been plucked straight out of the 1960s.

Read: ORA 7 Looks Like A Beetle Got Knocked Up By A Porsche

Ora has just updated the Ballet Cat for 2026, not that you’ll be able to tell from looking at it. As such, it retains the original car’s chrome front and rear bumpers, bulging wheel arches, and curvy windows. The big change is happening under the skin.

Rather than relying on an electric motor with just 169 hp, the Ballet Cat has been updated with a new 201 hp motor. According to figures released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), top speed has risen from 96 mph (155 km/h) to 112 mph (180 km/h). The battery is a lithium-iron phosphate unit, though it’s not yet clear whether it’s been upgraded like the motor.

Female-Centric Quirks

The new Ballet Cat will retain all the same odd, female-centric features as the original. These include a large vanity mirror specifically developed to help women apply make-up, small storage areas for lip gloss and foundation, and even a selfie camera that can automatically upload snaps to social media.

More: The ORA Ballet Cat’s ‘Warm Man Mode’ For That Time Of The Month Isn’t The Most Sexist Thing About It

The most bizarre feature of the Ballet Cat is the Warm Man Mode, and yes, that’s really what it is called. GWM infamously created this setting for women to use during menstruation. No, it doesn’t whisper sweet nothings to them or remind them of how beautiful they are, but rather simply turns up the climate control with a single press to help warm them up. Somehow, that made it past every meeting it needed to.

2022 GWM Ora Ballet Cat

The Volkswagen Group’s standalone Jetta brand in China continues to chug along and is now working on its very first electric sedan. VW already sells several EVs in China, so the new Jetta M6 looks set to fight at the affordable end of the market, where its designers appear to have borrowed heavily from one of the world’s best-selling EVs.

As these images from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show, the Jetta M6’s front fascia looks suspiciously like that of the Tesla Model 3. The slim, angular, and aggressive headlights adopt a very similar shape to that of the center of the front bumper, which is free of a traditional grille.

Read: VW’s New Compact Sedan Costs Less Than Half What Americans Pay For A Jetta

The rest of the car’s exterior design is rather mundane, particularly by Chinese EV standards. We can see the charging port is located on the passenger-side front quarter panel, there are flap-type door handles, and the door skins have pronounced creases to give the car a little bit of personality.

As for the rear, it’s fairly typical, including a blacked-out lower section of the bumper, slim LED taillights, and a light bar. Measurements released by the MIIT reveal that the M6 is 189.2 inches (4,806 mm) long, up to 74.6 inches (1,895 mm) wide depending on configuration, 59 inches (1,500 mm) tall, and has a 111-inch (2,820 mm) wheelbase. It will weigh in at between 3,432 lbs (1,557 kg) and 3,589 lbs (1,628 kg).

This Is No Sporty EV

The M6 is not one of those EVs from the Far East with a gazillion horsepower and enough torque to twist the Earth in half. Instead, it will be sold only with a single electric motor, delivering 152 hp (113 kW) in the base configuration and 194 hp (145 kW) in the flagship model. There’s no word on how large the battery pack will be, but we know it’s a lithium-ion pack with cells sourced from CALB and manufactured through the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture.

Earlier this year, Jetta announced plans to launch five new models by 2028, with four of them set to be new energy vehicles, meaning they’ll be either BEVs or PHEVs. Another Jetta model just around the corner will be a production-spec version of the recent Jetta X Concept SUV.

At the Beijing Auto Show earlier this year, Volkswagen unveiled a slew of new models including the ID. Unyx 09. The car was developed with Xpeng, but the company didn’t say much about it other than sales would begin later this year.

With a launch approaching, the 09 has been detailed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. There will be two variants and the base model will have a rear-mounted motor developing 308 hp (230 kW / 313 PS).

More: VW Storms Beijing With Two New ID Models And A Jetta Crossover Concept

Customers will also be able to get an all-wheel drive variant, which adds a 188 hp (140 kW / 190 PS) front motor into the mix. This means we can expect a combined maximum output of 496 hp (370 kW / 503 PS).

Both have a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h) and a lithium iron phosphate battery sourced from CATL. Since the powertrains appear to be shared with the ID. Unyx 08, it’s possible the 09 could have 82 and 95 kWh options.

Since we’ve already seen the car before, we’ll briefly note it’s a looker with an aggressive design that makes the ID.7 look like it runs on Ambien. The menacing front end features split lighting units and a subtle shark nose design.

The sporty styling continues further back with blacked out A-pillars, muscular bodywork, and a gently sloping roofline. They’re joined by a panoramic glass roof and 20- or 21-inch wheels.

At the rear, there are slender taillights with a red Volkswagen logo in the middle. We can also see a wide trunk and a black bumper with an integrated diffuser.

The ID. Unyx 09 measures 200 inches (5,081 mm) long, 78 inches (1,980 mm) wide, and 59.4-60 inches (1,509-1,526) tall. The model also has a wheelbase that spans 119.3 inches (3,030 mm). Customers can also expect curb weights of 4,866 lbs (2,207 kg) and 5,086 lbs (2,307 kg).

To put those numbers into perspective, the model is 4.7 inches (119 mm) longer than the ID.7 and has an extra 2.5 inches (64 mm) between the wheels.

Volkswagen is edging toward something it once treated as off-limits. The group’s China-developed models could go on sale in Europe, and eventually roll out of German plants, with a feasibility study already commissioned to see whether the math works. Plenty of people will hate the idea. It might also be the lifeline VW badly needs.

According to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Handelsblatt, the study covers both importing complete vehicles from China and the possibility of assembling them, or their major components, in Europe. Company sources also stress that the proposal remains exploratory and could still be abandoned.

Reports about VW potentially importing vehicles built in China to Europe first surfaced in May, following statements made by company boss Oliver Blume. At that stage, the talk centered on the ID.Era 9X, a model currently built in China alongside SAIC, which VW was said to be weighing for a European launch.

Read: VW Ruled China For 25 Years, Now Young Buyers Call It Their Parents’ Car

That forward-looking model is larger than the VW Touareg, yet in China it costs just €45,000 ($51,000), while a Touareg in Europe can easily climb past €80,000 ($91,000). Handelsblatt now reports that VW is leaning toward a different vehicle for import, one that has yet to launch in China at all, which suggests the plan has shifted since those first reports.

The model in question is expected to be close in size to the Touareg and will ride on Volkswagen’s China Scalable Platform (CSP). Crucially, this platform will be VW’s own and will not share technology and components with SAIC, giving the German brand complete control over the vehicle’s technology. Adaptations would be required to the car to meet European market requirements, including changes to the driver-assistance systems, materials, and software.

How To Avoid Tariffs?

Any vehicles VW brings into Europe from China will be subject to tariffs, and that is the sticking point. The Cupra Tavascan is currently built in China and exported to Europe, though it recently landed a tariff exemption because it mostly relies on European technology. Other models VW might import would probably not get the same treatment, which is where the calculus gets harder.

Current EU countervailing duties on Chinese-built EVs vary by manufacturer. SAIC faces 35%, BYD 17%, and Tesla just under 8%, in addition to the EU’s standard import tariff.

Building these vehicles in Europe would be an obvious way to avoid tariffs. Unnamed sources point to the company’s plant in Zwickau as a possible location, although nothing is set in stone. A key appeal of building these Chinese models on local shores is that it’d allow VW to boost the utilization rates at its German factories.

Employee representatives are reportedly open to evaluating additional China-developed models, provided they supplement rather than replace existing commitments to German factories.

Not Everyone Is Sold

However, it doesn’t appear that all VW executives are as interested in the idea as Blume. According to a company insider, VW chief financial officer Arno Antlitz has warned against “building vehicles from completely unrelated competitors in China and then branding these vehicles with the Volkswagen quality image.”

The Volkswagen ID.4 went out of production in Chattanooga, Tennessee in April as the plant is embracing “higher‑volume products that meet market demand.” While the electric crossover is dead in America, the automaker has previously said existing inventory should be enough to “support customer demand into 2027.”

After that point, a “future version” will arrive in America. It’s known as the ID. Tiguan and spy photographers recently snapped a prototype undergoing testing in the Alps.

More: VW’s Facelifted ID.4 Is Starting To Look A Lot Like A Tiguan

Disguised to look like the outgoing model, the electric Tiguan has a fully enclosed grille that will likely echo the one found on the new ID. Polo and facelifted ID.3 Neo. Bigger changes occur further below as the model has a new bumper, which channels air into revamped side curtains.

The lower intake is new as well and it trades a honeycomb mesh pattern for horizontal bars. The crossover also sports a new center-mounted sensor pod.

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Moving down the sides, the profile looks pretty familiar at first glance. However, a closer inspection reveals a surprising number of changes for a facelift.

In particular, there are new doors and a flatter shoulder line. Designers also added more conventional door handles as well as streamlined lower cladding. We can even see new third quarter glass and a reimagined rear pillar.

The extensive changes continue at the rear, where there’s an all-new liftgate, bumper, and diffuser. They’re joined by new taillights, which are hidden behind a photorealistic graphic.

Interior changes should be pretty significant as well and we can likely expect a new dashboard, upgraded displays, and revamped switchgear. We also wouldn’t be surprised to find a new steering wheel and higher quality materials.

The upgrades won’t end there as the ID. Tiguan will ride on the new MEB+ platform. We can also likely expect 58- and 79-kWh battery packs and a charging capacity of around 183 kW. They should be joined by upgraded motors offering improved performance and increased efficiency.

Of course, we’ll get a better idea of what to expect either late this year or early in 2027.

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