Volkswagen starts testing £22k ID 2 hatch for 2026 launch
▼ Summary
– Volkswagen is testing the ID 2, a key upcoming electric car, disguised with Volkswagen Polo body panels to avoid attention.
– The test car’s design details, like the short front overhang and distinct fascia, suggest it will closely resemble the 2023 ID 2all concept.
– VW’s design chief confirmed the production model will follow the concept’s styling, calling it even better than the original.
– Interior details, such as a flat-top steering wheel, hint at features borrowed from the smaller ID Every1 concept, including physical controls.
– The ID 2 is set to launch next year at around £22,000, while its crossover variant, the ID 2X, will debut in September but go on sale later.
Volkswagen has begun rigorous testing of its upcoming ID 2 electric hatchback, a model poised to become one of the brand’s most affordable EVs when it launches in 2026. Spotted near Germany’s famed Nürburgring circuit, the prototypes wear clever disguises, borrowing body panels from the conventional Polo, to conceal their true identity while avoiding the attention traditional camouflage might draw.
Though wrapped in plain white panels, telltale design cues hint at what lies beneath. The short front overhang, distinctive fascia, compact rear lights, and even a faux door release near the boot confirm the production model will stay remarkably close to the 2023 ID 2all concept. Volkswagen’s design chief, Andreas Mindt, has openly praised the final version, calling it an improvement over the already well-received show car.
Inside, subtle changes are emerging. While the concept featured a flat-bottomed steering wheel, spy shots suggest the production model may adopt a dual-flat design—similar to the smaller ID Every1 concept. This hints at a possible return to physical controls, addressing criticisms of the brand’s earlier touch-heavy interiors.
Priced at approximately £22,000, the ID 2 is set to become one of the UK’s most budget-friendly electric vehicles when it hits the market next year. Ahead of its arrival, Volkswagen will debut the ID 2X, a slightly larger crossover variant, at September’s Munich Motor Show. However, this model won’t go on sale until 2027, a full year after the hatchback’s launch.
The ID 2 represents a crucial step in Volkswagen’s electrification strategy, offering an accessible entry point into EV ownership without compromising on the brand’s signature design and engineering. With testing now underway, anticipation is building for what could be a game-changer in the affordable EV segment.
(Source: AUTOCAR)
