For some reason, most carmakers have struggled when it came to naming their EVs. You’ve got Toyota with its bZ4X, which sounds more like a TV than a car (and which they’ve now resorted to calling it simply “bZ” in certain markets); Mercedes-Benz’s EQ series that they’ve now reverted to simply adding “with EQ Technology” to the end of their regular model names, and of course, Volkswagen’s numerical ID EV line that never quite made sense.
Fortunately, it seems Volkswagen has realised the error in their ways, and have now decided to retain its legacy model names for its future EVs, starting with the ID. 2all that’ll be making its debut at the 2025 Munich auto show, which will now be called the ID. Polo – just in time for the iconic nameplate’s 50th anniversary.
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer said in a press release, “Our model names are firmly anchored in people’s minds. They stand for a strong brand and embody characteristics such as quality, timeless design and technologies for all. That’s why we’re moving our well-known names into the future. The ID. Polo is just the beginning.”
You know what else is also firmly anchored in people’s minds? GTI, not the silly GTX nonsense. And the good news is that the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo will also get a performance-oriented GTI variant, as previewed by the ID. GTI Concept back in 2023.
No details here, yet, but what we do know is that it’ll be front-wheel-drive only, and will closely match the performance of the current Volkswagen Golf GTI – which makes 245 hp and 370 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
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The brand will “transfer” more of these established names to its EV portfolio moving forward, too, which means both the internal combustion models and electric cars will both share the same name, which Volkswagen says will “[help] customers navigate the brand’s product range more easily in the future”.
Following the ID. Polo, Volkswagen says it’ll also be unveiling a new compact SUV concept this Sunday, to be dubbed the ID. CROSS Concept. Unsurprisingly, it’ll be the electric counterpart to the Volkswagen T-Cross, which the company says will be launched officially at the end of 2026.
The next Volkswagen ID. 3 will most likely become the ID. Golf; the ID. 4 probably the ID. Tiguan, and the ID. 7 could become the ID. Passat. See, it just makes sense.
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