Facelifted VW ID.3 Teased, Coming In Spring 2023 With Improved Quality

Volkswagen published a number of revealing teaser sketches for the upcoming ID.3, while announcing its debut for spring 2023. The compact EV will benefit from minor styling changes, improved quality with animal-free materials inside the cabin, plus a few technology upgrades.

VW designers and engineers got feedback from customers in order to improve the EV and its equipment package. Interestingly, the company refers to the model as “the second-generation ID.3” although it is clear we are talking about a mid-lifecycle update of the EV that was originally introduced in September 2019.

Read: VW’s New CEO Admits Its New Infotainment Is Bad, Vows To Fix It ASAP

A sketch of the updated ID.3 (above) compared to the current model (below). Notice the redesigned bumper and bonnet giving the EV a sportier stance.  

Visual changes are focused on the redesigned front bumper with sportier intakes, and the new bonnet which got stronger dynamic lines doing away with the black partition of the current ID.3. The rest of the body appears to be identical, including the profile, and the rear end. Even the alloy wheels and the lighting units look unchanged, although LED tech could be offered from lower trims.

Moving inside, the centerpiece is the larger 12-inch touchscreen for the infotainment that will gain new software and will still be compatible with over-the-air updates. The new screen will come standard in all trims. It is combined with a slightly updated digital instrument cluster and a much larger head-up display. We can also see simplified climate vents on the dashboard, a new design for the center console featuring two cupholders, and a removable storage compartment.

The characteristic gearshift lever of the current ID.3 is gone, while the play and pause graphics on the pedals are carried over. An interesting detail is the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel that appear to be unchanged in the sketches, although VW has confirmed they will be replaced by physical buttons in future models following criticism from its customers.

Interior sketches (above) reveal changes on the infotainment screen, head-up display, dashboard, and center console, while hinting at the updated materials compared to the outgoing ID.3 (below)

More importantly, VW has pledged to improve the interior quality of the ID.3 using more sustainable and animal skin-free materials. In the sketches, we can see new stitching patterns on the dashboard and the door trims, while we expect a less plasticky feel from the redesigned center console. Mind you, the current model has a leather-wrapped steering wheel that will be replaced by a “high-quality leather substitute”.

The company didn’t announce any updates to the MEB underpinnings, the electric motors, or the available battery capacities. However, it has previously confirmed a new ID.3 GTX hot hatch featuring more powerful dual electric motors and a sportier chassis setup.

VW expects a 2% improvement in the WLTP consumption and range figures of the ID.3 due to the design updates. The Plug & Charge and intelligent EV Route Planner functions will make life easier for ID.3 owners. Finally, in terms of ADAS, the optional Travel Assist will be enhanced with Swarm Data, and the Park Assist Plus will gain a Memory function.

Interestingly, VW has already started accepting orders for the new ID.3 in the Life, Business, Style, Max, and Tour variants, with prices starting from €43,995 ($46,336) before government incentives. Deliveries are expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2023. Due to the delays in deliveries caused by the semiconductor shortage and the order backlog, VW said that the existing orders of ID.3 Pro (Life, Business, Style, Max) and ID.3 Pro S (Tour) models will be automatically replaced for the updated EV equivalent.

The VW ID.3 is currently produced in Zwickau and Dresden plants, but from 2023 production will also commence in the Wolfsburg plant in a quest to meet the increasing customer demand.