VW is sending the new ID.3 onto the road with an extensive upgrade. The new software and infotainment generation as well as the improved operating concept are now also moving into the Wolfsburg-based electric compact class. With the increased charging power of up to 175 kW and thermally preconditioned battery, charging times are shortened. There is also a new generation of software.
The augmented reality head-up display has been further developed, and the “wellness app” and the optional premium sound system from Harman Kardon have been redesigned. With the improved drive, the performance of the ID.3 Pro S (from 47,595 euros) increases to up to 170 kW. Pre-sales for the Pro S model (5-seater) with a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery (net) have started, and further variants should be available to order shortly.
The ID.3 series receives a newly designed cockpit landscape. The infotainment system is characterized by a larger touchscreen (diagonal: 32.8 cm / 12.9 inches) and a new menu structure. “The multifunction steering wheel has also been further developed and enables simplified and more intuitive operation,” it says. In addition, the gear selector lever was detached from the “Digital Cockpit” housing and designed separately as a steering column lever, as in the ID.7.
Below the infotainment display are the now illuminated and more ergonomically designed touch sliders for controlling interior temperature and volume. The new voice assistant IDA can be operated using natural language. It allows you to control many vehicle functions and answer questions, accessing online databases such as Wikipedia. Another new feature is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) through “ChatGPT”.
The ID.3 is a further development of the previous electric motor, which, according to VW, delivers economical consumption despite more power. In the German market, the ID.3 Pro S now has 170 kW/231 hp as standard, which improves the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h to 7.1 seconds. The combined WLTP range of the ID.3 Pro S is up to 559 kilometers.
On the move, the charging and thermal management ensures that the battery is preconditioned before the next DC charging stop. This means that the ID.3 Pro S is supplied with energy as quickly as possible on long journeys, explains VW. The battery is heated to the optimal temperature so that it can be charged with a maximum output of up to 175 kW. This should shorten the charging time by several minutes, especially in winter.
It goes on to say: “When the navigation system is actively routed with the further improved e-route planner, preconditioning is started automatically on the way to the next fast charging station. Without active route guidance, the function can also be activated manually via the charging menu in the infotainment system. Practical: Routes with up to ten charging stops and ten intermediate destinations can be planned on the smartphone or in the web portal and then transferred to the infotainment system.”
New & further developed systems
In addition to the standard assistance systems, systems such as the further developed “Travel Assist” with the use of swarm data are available as options, which enables assisted longitudinal and lateral guidance over the entire speed range as well as assisted lane changing on the motorway. Also available as optional equipment is “Park Assist Plus” and the memory function for the system (automatic execution of a saved parking maneuver over a distance of up to 50 meters).
The “Park Assist Plus” is expanded to include a remote function for remote-controlled parking via a smartphone app. New to the ID.3 series is the exit warning: As an extension of the “Side Assist” lane change assistant, it can protect, within the system limits, from opening one of the doors if a vehicle approaches from behind. The system warns acoustically and visually and, in the event of acute danger, briefly prevents the relevant door(s) from being opened.
The “wellness app” was newly developed for “increased well-being while driving or taking breaks”. The app uses features in the ID.3 Pro S such as ambient lighting, sound and air conditioning. The following wellness modes will be available in the starting phase: “Fresh Up”, “Calm Down” (relaxation) and “Power Break” (break). The modes can be customized; for example, a Spotify playlist can be used instead of the pre-programmed sound.
The ID.3 Pro S comes to customers with an optional 480-watt sound system from Harman Kardon. The 12-channel sound system offers four preconfigured sound settings: “Pure” (neutral studio sound), “Relax” (relaxed tuning), “Speech” (focus on verbal contributions) and “Vibrant” (dynamic live sound). The sound can also be adjusted individually using an equalizer.