VW’s Affordable EV Could Be The Second Generation Of The e-Up!

Last month, Bloomberg reported that Volkswagen will add yet another electric vehicle in their I.D. family, priced at roughly €18,000 ($20,420) in Germany.

The model was reported to be a subcompact crossover. However, it appears that VW’s actual plans for its entry-level EV are different.

According to InsideEVs, who talked to the brand’s North America VP of E-Mobility and Innovation Matthew Renna during the 2018 L.A. Auto Show, the new electric vehicle isn’t part of the I.D. lineup. Renna, who used to work at Tesla as Program Manager, reportedly revealed that it’s actually an updated version of the e-Up!.

Also Watch: VW e-Up Is Definitely not for Drivers with Range Anxiety

The zero-emission city car should be upgraded with a bigger battery to improve its range, and won’t be underpinned by the new MEB platform. Also, just like the outgoing model, it won’t launch in the United States, as it will only be up for grabs in Europe.

It’s unknown when Volkswagen plans to unveil it, but rumors say that they might do it after 2020. The German car firm has big expectations from the new e-Up!, as it’s believed to sell around 200,000 units annually.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen has revised the UK pricing of the e-Up!, which is now more affordable and adds extra gear. The car has an MSRP of £23,115 ($29,466/€25,962) in Britain, or £19,615 ($25,005/€22,031) with the government plug-in car grant.

In the new WLTP standards, the e-Up! has a total driving range of 83 miles (134 km) thanks to its 18.7 kWh battery pack. Charging it takes 9 hours via a standard household socket, or 6 hours with the 3.6 kWh wall box.

Note: 2019 VW e-Up! pictured