Latest news with #KaiGrünitz
Auto Car
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Volkswagen's Model Y rival is getting a major update!
The company has not confirmed plans to go as far as changing the ID 4's name, but Schäfer previously suggested to Autocar that the Tiguan moniker would always have a place in Volkswagen's portfolio - even as the line-up goes all-electric: 'We've decided we're not going to throw away the traditional, successful names that have carried us for so long, that we've invested in for so long, like Golf and Tiguan. Why would you let them go?' An electric Tiguan equivalent has long been understood to be part of Volkswagen's product roadmap, the combustion-powered car being Volkswagen's most popular car globally, and was earmarked for a launch in 2025 or 2026 - which would coincide with the planned rollout for the upgraded ID 4. Speaking to Autocar, Volkswagen technical development boss Kai Grünitz recently confirmed that the ID 4 will follow the ID 3 hatchback in adopting the new design language first introduced on the 2023 ID 2all concept, giving them 'a family resemblance to the ID 2' as well as a 'lower and squatter stance'. Inside, Grünitz confirmed that the facelifted ID 3 and ID 4 will receive fully revised interiors featuring a new dashboard and user interface. Among the changes is a return of physical buttons and knobs in place of digital display-based functions and the controversial slider element, a move first hinted at by the ID 2All. 'We're going to bring back a round knob for the volume control,' an insider said, adding: 'If you develop something that works, and it has worked for years, there's no reason to replace it.'
Motor 1
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Volkswagen Swears Buttons And Knobs Are Coming Back
Volkswagen interiors reached their peak in the 2010s, when the cars had just the right blend of buttons and screens. At the turn of the decade, minimalism reared its ugly head as Wolfsburg decided it was a good idea to integrate access to most functions into the screen. The dreaded touch slider, which wasn't even illuminated at first, certainly didn't help either. Still, we're willing to give VW a pass if it stays true to its pledge to bring back physical controls. The company's Head of Technical Development told Autocar that a new dashboard design is in the works to rectify past mistakes. Kai Grünitz explained that upcoming updates for the ID.3 and ID.4 will introduce a revamped interior with a focus on traditional switchgear. The ID.2all concept previewed VW's new approach, and while it's a step in the right direction, we're still craving for the layout used in the Golf Mk7. VW concept Grünitz isn't the first high-ranking VW official to promise a return to old-school controls. Not long ago, design boss Andreas Mindt shared details about the future interior direction: "Starting with the ID.2all, every model will have physical buttons for the five most important functions: volume, heating for both sides, fan control, and the hazard lights, positioned beneath the screen. These will be standard across all future VW vehicles." Mindt even went so far as to say VW will 'never, ever make this mistake anymore. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing anymore. There's feedback, it's real, and people love this. Honestly, it's a car. It's not a phone.' According to Autocar , an insider has confirmed that a rotary knob for volume control will return in future models. That same source indirectly admitted that eliminating conventional switchgear had been a misstep: 'If you develop something that works, and it has worked for years, there's no reason to replace it.' Yet VW did just that by attempting to fix what wasn't broken. VW concept Photo by: Volkswagen While EVs will lead the charge, combustion-engine cars are also expected to reintroduce physical buttons. Realistically, though, future VWs probably won't offer as many tactile controls as a previous-generation Golf. Still, there's reason for optimism: the facelifted Mk8 Golf already features real buttons on the steering wheel for the GTI and R. In Europe, the R-Line trim also ditched capacitive-touch keys with the arrival of the Mk8.5. Hopefully, this long-overdue return to traditional controls will also rub off onto sister models from Skoda, Audi, and the rest of the VW gang. The first three models with the updated interior are set to land in 2026: the production-ready ID.2 and facelifted versions of the ID.3 and ID.4. Catch Up With VW: This Is the Most Powerful Volkswagen GTI Ever VW's New EV Platform Still Supports Combustion Engines Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Autocar Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor 1
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Volkswagen Swears Buttons And Knobs Are Coming Back
Volkswagen interiors reached their peak in the 2010s, when the cars had just the right blend of buttons and screens. At the turn of the decade, minimalism reared its ugly head as Wolfsburg decided it was a good idea to integrate access to most functions into the screen. The dreaded touch slider, which wasn't even illuminated at first, certainly didn't help either. Still, we're willing to give VW a pass if it stays true to its pledge to bring back physical controls. The company's Head of Technical Development told Autocar that a new dashboard design is in the works to rectify past mistakes. Kai Grünitz explained that upcoming updates for the ID.3 and ID.4 will introduce a revamped interior with a focus on traditional switchgear. The ID.2all concept previewed VW's new approach, and while it's a step in the right direction, we're still craving for the layout used in the Golf Mk7. VW concept Grünitz isn't the first high-ranking VW official to promise a return to old-school controls. Not long ago, design boss Andreas Mindt shared details about the future interior direction: "Starting with the ID.2all, every model will have physical buttons for the five most important functions: volume, heating for both sides, fan control, and the hazard lights, positioned beneath the screen. These will be standard across all future VW vehicles." Mindt even went so far as to say VW will 'never, ever make this mistake anymore. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing anymore. There's feedback, it's real, and people love this. Honestly, it's a car. It's not a phone.' According to Autocar , an insider has confirmed that a rotary knob for volume control will return in future models. That same source indirectly admitted that eliminating conventional switchgear had been a misstep: 'If you develop something that works, and it has worked for years, there's no reason to replace it.' Yet VW did just that by attempting to fix what wasn't broken. VW concept Photo by: Volkswagen While EVs will lead the charge, combustion-engine cars are also expected to reintroduce physical buttons. Realistically, though, future VWs probably won't offer as many tactile controls as a previous-generation Golf. Still, there's reason for optimism: the facelifted Mk8 Golf already features real buttons on the steering wheel for the GTI and R. In Europe, the R-Line trim also ditched capacitive-touch keys with the arrival of the Mk8.5. Hopefully, this long-overdue return to traditional controls will also rub off onto sister models from Skoda, Audi, and the rest of the VW gang. The first three models with the updated interior are set to land in 2026: the production-ready ID.2 and facelifted versions of the ID.3 and ID.4. Catch Up With VW: This Is the Most Powerful Volkswagen GTI Ever VW's New EV Platform Still Supports Combustion Engines Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Autocar Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Blog
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
VW CEO: All-Electric GTI Will Be a 'Monster Car'
With electrification on its side, the OG hot hatch gets even more sizzle Some cars seem destined to be better with electrification. Mini, for example, should've been a slam dunk. The same goes for most of the Fiat lineup. Whether or not those brands have lived up to expectations, of course, is another conversation. Volkswagen's iconic Golf GTI has a lot of the same traits: small, practical, and quick. For over 45 years, it's been the poster child for accessible enthusiast rides in the VW portfolio, and the company doesn't plan on blowing it. At least, not if its CEO is to be believed. VW ID GTI Concept VW ID GTI Concept VW ID GTI Concept VW's CEO has driven a 'mind-blowing' electric Golf GTI prototype In conversations originally cited by Autocar, VW CEO Thomas Schäfer discussed some of the finer points of the upcoming, all-electric GTI. He's under the impression that an electric Golf can 'absolutely' still be exciting. How can he be so sure? 'We have driven a few prototypes that we have built on the new setup…it is mind-blowing.' He goes on to say that VW is paying special attention to how the car feels, sounds, and handles. He claims that, based on the prototypes, the EV GTI will be 'a monster car.' Last year, we got our first glimpse at what exactly an EV GTI might look like. VW executive Kai Grünitz's comments rang a bit more modest relative to Schäfer's more recent ones. 'Do we need 300 or 350 bhp? With a GTI, what's more important than power is drivability,' he said in 2024 at GTI Fan Fest in Wolfsburg. 'It will be a real go-kart. I've driven a prototype and it's really amazing.' The current gas-powered GTI makes 240 horsepower (236 bhp), and while a 280-something horsepower GTI still sounds like a ton of fun, it's probably not what most drivers would call a 'monster.' But who knows, VW may have changed its tune (literally and figuratively) in the 10 months since Grünitz's comments. The GTI badge is spreading, according to Schäfer Shreds of hope for the EV GTI weren't the only clues Schäfer dropped regarding what's coming out of Wolfsburg. Schäfer claims the electric Golf won't debut until close to the end of the decade, but it will be the forerunner for a 'whole group' of cars wearing GTI badges. While we're hoping that means something more in the way of a Jetta GTI than an ID.4 GTI, we don't have any other information right now. The current Golf's lifecycle will run until 2028 or 2029. VW ID GTI Concept VW ID GTI Concept Final thoughts Electric cars can be fun, and the GTI is a natural fit for electrification. It all comes down to implementation, though, as the feel has almost always been the reason shoppers end up in the driver's seat of a GTI as opposed to any other hot hatch. From the tartan/plaid seats to the iconic gear selector, there is no shortage of things besides the powertrain that make a GTI decidedly 'fun.' It's good news that the CEO of VW is excited about the new GTI; we just hope the small details don't get missed.
The Drive
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Future VW EVs Will Get Real Names
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The Germans have been a fickle bunch as of late, at least when it comes to naming their vehicles. Volkswagen is the latest to reassess its branding strategy with plans to do away with the alphanumeric 'ID' badging in favor of actual car names. Just as electric vehicle styling ebbs and flows between avant-garde and traditional, so do the model names. In an interview with Auto und Wirtschaft , VW brand board member Martin Sander revealed that the name wasn't actually going to stick. Not for other upcoming models, either. 'The cars will get proper names again,' he said. 'This question will arise specifically with the market launch of new models – neither the ID.2all nor the will have those names in series production.' What the production names would actually be, Sander, who is part of Sales, Marketing, and After Sales management team, remained mum. 'We'll announce that when the time comes.' According to Carscoops , future ID vehicles could adopt names that already exist in the VW vault. For example, the ID.2 could be renamed Polo, and the ID.1 could be identified as Lupo, Fox, or Up! Or, you know, Volkswagen could choose new names altogether. Kai Grünitz, another VW board member who is on the Technical Development side, previously mentioned that ID models would be significantly updated starting in 2026. Carscoops says that could be the ideal time to not only give every ID a facelift but also a new non-alphanumeric name. At the very least, drop that period and the awkward spacing (no space if followed by a number, space if followed by a letter). Marketing mayhem at its best. The ID EV sub-brand was launched in 2017. In the U.S., we currently have ID.4 and to choose from. The ID.7 was set to arrive, delayed, and then ultimately canceled. Having a vehicle name that doesn't resemble a NASDAQ chart is one thing, but the VW EVs still have to be identifiable when you consider that ICE-powered models will be sold alongside for another few years. Perhaps VW can take a cue from its countrymen. BMW gave its multi-faceted 'i' a single job now: it'll appear only on its electric models. Also, the eDrive and xDrive word salad might disappear with the Neue Klasse lineup, replaced with a more straightforward system. Audi has shifted its naming structure twice in as many years. First, it was a battle of the odd and even numbers before sensibility fought through to revert back to the As and the Qs. Then you've got Mercedes-Benz pretending the whole EQ thing never happened. As Sander said, only time will tell. Hopefully, Volkswagen doesn't end up on the EV name struggle bus that Honda is apparently in regarding its future electrified lineup. Got a tip? Email us at tips@ Beverly Braga has enjoyed an eventful career as a Swiss Army knife, having held roles as an after-school teacher, film critic, PR manager, transcriber, and video producer – to name a few. She is currently a communications consultant and freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous outlets covering automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, and food & beverage. Beverly grew up in Hawaii but roots for Washington, D.C., sports teams.
