VW is said to be toying with the idea of a particularly high-performance ID.2 R, which could become the brand’s first model to feature all-wheel drive using in-wheel motors. Should VW give the green light, the ID.2 R would sit above the already confirmed ID.2 GTI in the line-up and potentially even be pitched against the limited edition Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
The ID.2 is based on the MEB Small platform, which supports front-wheel drive. However, as the British car magazine Autocar reports, citing insider sources, VW is currently exploring the possibility of expanding the system to all-wheel drive thanks to rear in-wheel motors, specifically in conjunction with the ID.2 R. The ‘R’ refers to the Group’s performance sub-brand, positioned above the regular GTI line. The target is to match or exceed the performance and handling of today’s GTX EVs, such as the ID.3 GTX, while maintaining a smaller footprint and a more affordable price.
Explore in-wheel motors
The R division at Volkswagen is reportedly exploring the performance and torque vectoring potential of in-wheel motors. The drivetrain that is being considered for the ID.2 R would retain the GTI’s front electric motor and power electronics, Autocar notes, “but adds two independently controlled electric hub motors within the rear wheels”. This setup is designed to deliver a significant performance boost without compromising boot space.
A technical partnership with an in-wheel motor specialist from the Balkans that is believed to specialise in lightweight, high-output in-wheel motor systems is reportedly on the table. Combined with predictive torque distribution, brake-based yaw control, and dynamic drive modes, the system is claimed to offer genuine hyper-hatch performance and agility without the bulk and cost of a conventional dual-motor setup.
However, the use of in-wheel motors is still under evaluation. VW is also exploring whether a more conventional concept could be viable and will compare the costs of both solutions. Autocar has also been told that it would not require expensive modifications to the ID.2’s ‘MEB Plus’ platform to accommodate a second, rear-mounted motor, should VW opt to offer the same performance from a more conventional setup instead.
Sharing platforms
Should VW ultimately introduce in-wheel motors, “the implications for the rest of the MEB Plus line-up are equally significant,” according to Autocar. The car magazine speculates that VW could roll out the all-wheel drive system with rear in-wheel motors across compact crossovers and SUVs, without compromising architecture.
That could pave the way for the ID.2 crossover to be offered as a baby off-roader, like the upcoming dual-motor Renault 4, for example. It could also help streamline platform sharing, allowing Volkswagen to build front-, rear-, and four-wheel-drive models on a single architecture with minimal hardware divergence.
