Audi pulled the wraps off the E-Tron GT concept last
week and officials have now revealed it will be followed by another E-Tron
concept in a few months. According to Auto Express, the upcoming concept will preview an entry-level
hatchback that will be about the same size as the Audi A3 and the production
version of the Volkswagen ID concept. The similarities to the latter model
aren’t a coincidence as both cars will ride on the new MEB platform.
The decision to base the model on the MEB platform
should help to keep costs down which is good news for consumers looking for
something more affordable than standard E-Tron which starts at US$ 74,800.
Little else is known about the car, but the
production version of the ID concept is slated to go into production by the end
of 2019. Volkswagen has previously said the MEB-based ID family will primarily
be front-wheel drive, but there will also be all-wheel drive variants which
feature an additional electric motor that powers the front wheels.
The car’s range remains a mystery, but
specifications should echo those from the ID lineup. As a result, we can expect
a modular battery pack that allows for ranges between 321 km and 547+ km according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test
Procedure.
While we have a pretty good idea about the car’s
specs, the styling remains more mysterious. However, Audi’s head of exterior
design suggested the hatchback will have more conventional styling than
previous E-Tron models. Andreas Mindt said this is a bit of challenge as making
a “small car look nice, which is cheap for mass production, is a very hard
task.”
Considering the model will be unveiled in a few
months, it could be shown at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
