Volkswagen reveals updated ID.3 electric car

Volkswagen has announced that its very first ID model, the ID.3 hatchback is getting a substantial update in 2023.

At the moment, the actual vehicle has been kept strictly under wraps, possibly to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in mid-February 2023, but what we do have though are some design sketches.

What's immediately clear is that the front of the ID.3 has been heavily revised, gone have the dimpled front bumpers replaced by a more angular design which is more reminiscent of larger siblings the ID.4 and ID.5. However, the relatively short snout remains, as do the famed lights and connected LED light strip, broken up with the placement of the VW badge.

The rear of the ID.3 looks pretty similar to the current model, with the sketches showing the possibility of a slightly larger rear window. The light clusters remained unchanged, as does the rear bumper.

Inside the new Volkswagen ID.3, the Germany carmaker is upgrading the materials used to bring it, again, closer to the quality found in the ID.4 and ID.5. One of the criticisms levelled at the existing ID.3 hatchback is the utilitarian materials used. The touchscreen receives a size increase, from 10-inches to 12-inches and as before most of the vehicle settings can be found in a menu.

Under the facelift, Volkswagen isn't making any changes to the battery packs or power outputs, so those will remain unchanged. In Germany customers will have the option of selecting from one of five trims, however there's no news yet about UK production.

VW has also confirmed that the ID.3 should get a slight improvement in range but we're talking an increase of around 2 per cent over the existing model, so just an extra mile or two.

In a move to expand production to meet demand, Volkswagen has also confirmed that production of ID models will expand to its Wolfsburg plant in 2023, complementing the existing EV facilities at Zwickau and Dresden.