[Auto] VW ID. Life Concept Arrives In Munich To Preview FWD Electric City Car

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The e-up! is Volkswagen's shy attempt to offer an entry-level electric car and you'll have to wait until the middle of the decade for a bespoke EV from Wolfsburg easier on the wallet. That's because the ID. Life concept debuting today at IAA Munich won't arrive in production guise until 2025 when it will slot below the ID.3 compact electric hatchback.

Unlike its bigger brother which sends power to the rear wheels, the concept car has been engineered as a front-wheel-drive EV on a shortened version of the same MEB platform adapted specifically for city cars. The e-motor packs a respectable punch by delivering a healthy 231 hp (172 kW) and 290 Nm (214 lb-ft) to the front wheels, good for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) run in 6.9 seconds en route to 112 mph (180 km/h).

The ID. Life gets its necessary juice from a battery pack with a useable capacity of 57 kWh (62 kWh gross) providing approximately 249 miles (400 kilometers) of range based on the WLTP cycle. It supports DC fast-charging, which translates to 101 miles (163 kilometers) of range in just 10 minutes. With four years until it hits the road, it will be interesting to see whether VW will improve these numbers for the production car.

Because apparently nearly everything has to be an SUV these days, VW has designed the ID. Life as a "city car with crossover character.” It has a generous ground clearance of 190 millimeters (7.5 inches) combined with 26° and 37° approach and departure angles, respectively. Being developed on a bespoke EV platform, it's also remarkably spacious and practical despite its petite size of just 4091 mm (161.6 in) long, 1845 mm (72.6 in) wide, and 1599 mm (63 in) height.