Volkswagen has confirmed a number of developments concerning its immediate future at the ongoing LA Auto show. Along with significant updates to its ID range of EVs, the German brand’s R&D boss Kai Grunitz has confirmed that the production version of the ID2all concept will make its debut at the 2025 Munich motor show, alongside an SUV based on the all-electric hatchback.
- Volkswagen ID2 design to inspire future ID models
- VW Polo to return to international line-up
- VW to continue to have separate ICE and EV platforms
Speaking to our sister publication Autocar UK, Grunitz confirmed that the second model to use VW’s MEB Entry architecture, after the ID2 hatchback, will be an SUV variant. It will be shown in concept form in Munich in September 2025. From a design standpoint, the hatchback and SUV will be a big visual leap for VW as part of company boss Thomas Schafer’s desire to make VW a “loved brand” again.
Volkswagen ID range design update
Along with stating that the development of the production version of the VW ID2all concept is on track for a late 2025/early 2026 launch, Grunitz said that the new EV will be the “starting point” for a new era for VW, “because customers will see there has been a change, and a much bigger change than expected”. The R&D boss also confirmed “huge improvements” from 2026 to the current ID range of EVs, including an all-new look that is “going back to where we came from”, as well as improvements in battery costs and overall performance and new functionality.
The design of the updated and new ID cars and SUVs is set to be inspired by the ID2all concept, which presents design boss Andreas Mindt’s vision for the future of VW designs that is altogether friendlier and inspired by the likes of the popular Golf models from yesteryear. Grunitz said this look would be more akin “to what Volkswagen stands for” from a design perspective.
Volkswagen ID2 GTI confirmed for 2026
A sporty GTI version is also in the works, with Grunitz saying that while it is “easy” to add performance to electric cars, it’s more difficult to add that GTI “DNA”; the stuff that made Golf GTIs great in the past. However, he also stated that the new ID2 GTI has “ideas that you’ll be surprised”. The first electric GTI will be revealed in 2026.
Volkswagen Polo will not disappear
Upcoming EU7 emissions would result in a combustion engine line-up that’s “slimmer than today”, said Grunitz. However, there would also be more mild-hybrid powertrain options. While he didn’t confirm which models would disappear, he did say the Polo wouldn’t be one of them. The small hatchback, which was on sale in India (but is unlikely to return), would receive an extensive update when the new norms come into place.
VW platforms for EVs and ICE models to continue
Speaking on investing in parallel architectures – like the MQB for combustion-engined models and MEB for electric ones – Grunitz said that it was a “a huge effort”. However, there is no end date for the MQB architecture as EV sales has not been as predicted. Indeed, Grunitz said that it was possible VW could integrate electric powertrains into it once again as part of the options on the table for its development.
VW’s sales and marketing boss Martin Sander said that ultimately “it was better for customers” to have dedicated architectures for the different technologies but as the firm looked to the next generation “[we] have to find a very smart way of keeping [individual] features, but also using components across the platforms in an intelligent way”.
Volkswagen India future plans
While neither the ID2 hatch nor SUV have been announced for our market, the VW Group in India is currently looking for local partners to expand its India operations. Just this year, it has tied up with Mahindra so that the Indian company’s INGLO platform-based models – like the BE 6e and XEV 9e – can use VW’s batteries. In addition, Volkswagen is working on bringing facelifts for the Taigun and Virtus, and readying a Skoda Kylaq-based compact SUV for 2026. The company has also been evaluating a mass market EV for India, and has listed the ID.4 on its site for a while to gauge response.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
