Volkswagen launches special £48k ID 3 limited to 1990 examples
Taking the same name as its forebear, the ID 3 GTX Fire+Ice was previewed last year by an eponymous concept and will be limited to just 1990 examples worldwide.
Its arrival marks the start of an effort by Volkswagen to release low-volume specials across its ID range in a bid to increase the appeal of its EVs, as it did with earlier ICE models.
The German brand says it wants to show how specials, like 1995's Golf Rolling Stones and 1994's Golf Pink Floyd, could work with today's electric range of cars.
The ID 3 GTX Fire+Ice reinterprets many of the original design cues from the limited-edition Golf (pictured below).
It has been designed in collaboration with Bögner, the German sportswear company that helped design the original car.
Highlights include a unique ultra-violet metallic paint, 20in Locarno alloy wheels, red roof trim and a special embossed F+I pattern on the C-pillar. The original Fire+Ice logo can also be found on the roof.
The interior also receives unique touches, most notable Flaming Red (for Fire) and Ice Blue (for Ice) elements within the special seats, which have been quilted in a design similar to Bögner's Fire+Ice down jackets.
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37 minutes ago
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EU pushes for reduced US autos tariff from August 1 as joint text limits exemptions
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The Sun
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'The reality is that this will be a change and the used car industry doesn't handle change well. That said, an EV battery certification is just an add-on to a pre-approved preparation process anyway. Some might say it's simpler than needing an oil and filter change. 'That would open up the market for an independent company to offer such a service to dealers. In reality, it's just a plug-and-play option. I suspect the technology is there to do it remotely, too.' Why isn't battery SoH a regulation? There's a chance that regulation might not even be necessary. Some dealers are starting to recognise that a SoH certificate is a useful sales tool. Scan the classified adverts for electric cars and you'll already find some with mentions of a certified battery health figure. 'Dealers have been slow to adopt it,' says Winston, 'but hopefully more franchised dealers will start doing so soon. I don't know any independent dealers which offer it yet, though.' And if the dealers don't get there, the manufacturers may beat them to it. The latest Toyota bZ4X electric car, for example, has an option in the instrument binnacle menu to display the current SoH, enabling potential buyers to check with no more than a few button presses from inside the car. It's one of the first models to do so – but there's a strong chance that more will follow. Preaching to the converted Winston remains unconvinced that SoH certification will be a silver bullet to get second-hand buyers more interested in EVs. 'Range and charging are still the biggest objections,' he says. 'Although I don't think battery certification will move that many more people to buy an EV, I do think that battery certification will be of importance for people who have already decided to buy an EV.' 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