Latest news with #ID.3ProS
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major car brand to lock new model's full power behind monthly subscription as fans blast ‘this will be the future'
VW says this offers customers the flexibility to choose a sportier drive when desired PLUG IN Major car brand to lock new model's full power behind monthly subscription as fans blast 'this will be the future' VOLKSWAGEN has come under fire after it was revealed they look set to introduce a subscription model to unlock the full power in two of its electric cars. Buyers will have to pay a monthly or annual fee to access the maximum performance of two EV models - with fans worried it could see the beginnings of a future where manufacturers charge ongoing fees for features already built into vehicles. 4 VW have been criticised for introducing a subscription model to unlock the full power in two iterations of the ID.3 model Credit: Volkswagen 4 For a monthly fee, the car's performance could be increased from 201bhp to 228bhp Credit: Volkswagen Advertisement 4 Various payment options are available, including a £16.50 per month option Credit: Volkswagen 4 Many feel that paying extra to unlock existing capabilities feels exploitative and view it as a shift towards monetising basic functions Credit: Volkswagen According to Auto Express, UK customers will soon be forced by the German brand to fork out extra to unlock additional power in the ID.3 Pro and ID.3 Pro S. The subscription will allow owners to pay for an upgrade that increases the car's performance from 201bhp to 228bhp and increase the torque from 265Nm to 310Nm Advertisement Various payment options are available; £16.50 per month, £165 annually or £649 for a lifetime subscription. Auto Express added that the lifetime option is tied to the car, not the individual, meaning the enhanced performance remains even if the car is sold. VW says this approach offers customers flexibility, allowing them to opt for a sportier driving experience without committing to a higher upfront purchase price. In a statement, the firm added: 'Offering more power to customers is nothing new - historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been offered with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more potency. Advertisement 'These traditionally are higher up in the product range, with more specification and a higher list price. 'If customers wish to have an even sportier driving experience, they now have an option to do so, within the life of the vehicle, rather than committing from the outset with a higher initial purchase price. 'The car is presented on the configurator with [201bhp], with the option made very clear to customers.' SUBSCIPTION ECONOMY The concept of charging for subscription-based add-ons for features like heated seats or improved already been present in vehicles built by the likes of BMW and Mercedes in the past. The world's most famous hatchback turned 50 in 2024 – key reasons why it's still going strong and loved by millions However, many drivers feel that paying extra to unlock existing capabilities feels exploitative and view it as a shift towards monetising basic functions, further adding to the growing "subscription economy." Advertisement Taking to social media, many made their feelings very clear. 'Every single manufacturer pushing stuff like this deserves to fail,' said one user on X. Another added: 'I like 20 years you'll need to pay a monthly subscription to even drive the car you own. 'It's the long con so companies can make money off you even after your card is paid off.' A third commented: 'Stop supporting companies that wanna just squeeze you for every dime.' Advertisement And fourth wrote: 'That'll be the lowest selling car in their lineup and it won't be close.' The issue has already brought about an intriguing debate around 'jailbreaking', which refers to modifying or hacking a vehicle's software to unlock features or capabilities that are restricted. In the case of VW's ID.3 subscription model, jailbreaking could involve bypassing the software locks that prevent access to the car's full power without paying the subscription fee. Jailbreaking, though, typically violates the terms of the manufacturer's warranty, meaning the owner would have to pay for repairs out of pocket, while hacking a car's software could result in legal action from the manufacturer. What's more, modifying software can lead to unintended consequences, such as disabling essential safety systems like ABS or airbags. Advertisement It could also cause glitches, malfunctions or reduced performance.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major car brand to lock new model's full power behind monthly subscription as fans blast ‘this will be the future'
VW says this offers customers the flexibility to choose a sportier drive when desired PLUG IN Major car brand to lock new model's full power behind monthly subscription as fans blast 'this will be the future' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VOLKSWAGEN has come under fire after it was revealed they look set to introduce a subscription model to unlock the full power in two of its electric cars. Buyers will have to pay a monthly or annual fee to access the maximum performance of two EV models - with fans worried it could see the beginnings of a future where manufacturers charge ongoing fees for features already built into vehicles. 4 VW have been criticised for introducing a subscription model to unlock the full power in two iterations of the ID.3 model Credit: Volkswagen 4 For a monthly fee, the car's performance could be increased from 201bhp to 228bhp Credit: Volkswagen 4 Various payment options are available, including a £16.50 per month option Credit: Volkswagen 4 Many feel that paying extra to unlock existing capabilities feels exploitative and view it as a shift towards monetising basic functions Credit: Volkswagen According to Auto Express, UK customers will soon be forced by the German brand to fork out extra to unlock additional power in the ID.3 Pro and ID.3 Pro S. The subscription will allow owners to pay for an upgrade that increases the car's performance from 201bhp to 228bhp and increase the torque from 265Nm to 310Nm Various payment options are available; £16.50 per month, £165 annually or £649 for a lifetime subscription. Auto Express added that the lifetime option is tied to the car, not the individual, meaning the enhanced performance remains even if the car is sold. VW says this approach offers customers flexibility, allowing them to opt for a sportier driving experience without committing to a higher upfront purchase price. In a statement, the firm added: 'Offering more power to customers is nothing new - historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been offered with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more potency. 'These traditionally are higher up in the product range, with more specification and a higher list price. 'If customers wish to have an even sportier driving experience, they now have an option to do so, within the life of the vehicle, rather than committing from the outset with a higher initial purchase price. 'The car is presented on the configurator with [201bhp], with the option made very clear to customers.' SUBSCIPTION ECONOMY The concept of charging for subscription-based add-ons for features like heated seats or improved already been present in vehicles built by the likes of BMW and Mercedes in the past. The world's most famous hatchback turned 50 in 2024 – key reasons why it's still going strong and loved by millions However, many drivers feel that paying extra to unlock existing capabilities feels exploitative and view it as a shift towards monetising basic functions, further adding to the growing "subscription economy." Taking to social media, many made their feelings very clear. 'Every single manufacturer pushing stuff like this deserves to fail,' said one user on X. Another added: 'I like 20 years you'll need to pay a monthly subscription to even drive the car you own. 'It's the long con so companies can make money off you even after your card is paid off.' A third commented: 'Stop supporting companies that wanna just squeeze you for every dime.' And fourth wrote: 'That'll be the lowest selling car in their lineup and it won't be close.' The issue has already brought about an intriguing debate around 'jailbreaking', which refers to modifying or hacking a vehicle's software to unlock features or capabilities that are restricted. In the case of VW's ID.3 subscription model, jailbreaking could involve bypassing the software locks that prevent access to the car's full power without paying the subscription fee. Jailbreaking, though, typically violates the terms of the manufacturer's warranty, meaning the owner would have to pay for repairs out of pocket, while hacking a car's software could result in legal action from the manufacturer. What's more, modifying software can lead to unintended consequences, such as disabling essential safety systems like ABS or airbags. It could also cause glitches, malfunctions or reduced performance.
Engadget
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Engadget
Volkswagen is making UK owners pay extra to unlock ID.3 EV's full potential
It's safe to say nobody likes it when a company locks the full potential of a vehicle they already bought behind a monthly subscription, which is what Volkswagen is doing in the UK. As Electrek and Auto Express have reported, the automaker now lists the Volkswagen ID.3 Pro and Pro S on its UK website with lesser horsepower that what they're capable of. In a footnote for the ID.3 Pro S Essential page, the company notes that for new orders, 150 kW or 201 horsepower is now the new standard for engine power. Customers can only enjoy the electric vehicle's 228 hp (170 kW) capability if they activate an "optional power upgrade for a fee." They can pay $22 (£16.50) a month to unlock the EV's full horsepower, pay for the whole year at once or pay a one-time lifetime fee of $880 (£649). Based on Volkswagen's wording, the one-time fee is good for the lifetime of the car, not the owner's. If the customer sells their EV, the new owner also gets the upgrade. They'd then have to pay for it again if they buy a new EV that had also been paywalled. Owners will at least get a free month-long trial in case they want to figure out if they truly needed that extra muscle. Back in 2022, BMW also locked its cars' heated seat feature in some countries behind an $18-per-month subscription fee. It offered to unlock automatic high beams for roughly $12 and steering wheel heating for another $12, as well. Like in Volkswagen's case, the EV's hardware were already capable of all those features, and customers didn't need to have anything installed. It was all just a matter of paying to unlock their availability. Well, as one would expect, users didn't like that. A year later, BMW scrapped its hardware subscription service and said that it will no longer make customers pay extra for hardware functions going forward.
