SPY PICS: 2025 Volkswagen ID.2 spotted

The 2025 Volkswagen ID.2 has been spied testing for the first time on Germany's Nurburgring as the German brand gears up to the launch of its all-new sub-$40,000 EV later next year.

Sneakily dressed up to look like the brand's current VW ID.3, the disguise wasn't fooling our spy photographer who easily picked out the new Volkswagen ID.2's narrower body and shorter wheelbase as it carried out extensive durability testing.

Set to be built on Volkswagen's heavily-revised MEB Entry architecture, we already know the ID.2 will be strictly front-wheel drive and be offered with a range of single-motor powertrains.

Developed alongside the Skoda Epiq and the Cupra Raval as well as possibly a premium Audi version that will be offered in the future, the real ID.2 will be heavily based on the ID.2all concept that was unwrapped back in early 2023.

Designed to offer the space of a Golf for the price (and footprint) of a Polo, the ID.2 will cover more than 400km on a charge, have seating for up to five adults and boast a large 490-litre boot.

As well as offering a standard and extended range version, later on Volkswagen will expand the ID.2 family to include a small SUV that could be badged the ID.2 X that will replace the T-Cross SUV.

Shortly after its launch a GTI version will also be introduced that has already been previewed by the well-received ID. GTI Concept that could offer up to 250kW from a single-motor, with an over-boost function that will increase peak power briefly to as much as 320kW for rapid overtakes.

With that kind of firepower a 0-100km/h sprint of just 3.2 seconds could be possible.

Some have suggested the ID.3-based mule shown testing might be the GTI since it features large 20-inch wheels that hide the big brakes needed for the fastest version.

Within, the ID.2 will feature the German car-making giant's next-generation infotainment system that will be supplemented by the return of physical buttons following EuroNCAP's mandate that physical buttons would be needed to receive the full five-stars for safety in the future.

Even though it's still to be revealed, Volkswagen Australia has already said it's keen to offer the sub-$40,000 EV down under, the German brand predicting that sales of EVs will overtake combustion-powered cars by 2028.

Exact timing for the 2025 Volkswagen ID.2 have yet to be disclosed but it's thought to be unveiled in the second half of 2025 with deliveries to begin later that year or early in 2026.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au