Latest news with #ThomasSchäfer
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major car brand to overhaul popular SUV into ‘completely different car' in bid to keep up with rivals
A MAJOR car brand is giving a huge makeover to one of its most popular cars and it's going to look 'completely different'. The iconic SUV is getting an overhaul as part of the beloved brand's bid to keep up with its rivals. Advertisement 3 Volkswagen are overhauling the design of one of its most iconic vehicles Credit: Alamy 3 The ID 4 will be getting a brand new look Credit: Getty Volkswagen is the manufacturer of some of the UK's favourite cars, including the ID 4 SUV. The ID 4 is the company's second electric car, after the ID 3. Now, as the model approaches its fifth anniversary, Volkswagen has decided to give the car a modern makeover. Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen's CEO, has said that the new version of the car is 'really beautiful'. Advertisement He added: "We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up." The car manufacturer is hoping to make the ID 4 closely resemble the upcoming ID 1 city cars and ID 2 superminis, which have a futuristic and sleek design. Thomas said that the change is part of a bid for the brand to 'stay competitive' and for the car - which is its 'most important electric vehicle in numbers' - to look like Volkswagen's other designs. According to Autocar, the new version of the vehicle is known as the 'electric Tiguan' in Volkswagen's HQ, though it is unknown if the ID 4 will keep its name. Advertisement However, Thomas has confirmed that several major cars produced by Volkswagen will keep their names, He said: '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. The Volkswagen ID3 GTX Performance 'Why would you let them go?' First launched in 2020, the ID 4 is the fourth best-selling electric car in Europe behind the ID 7 and ID 4. Advertisement German-owned Volkswagen is keen to become a global leader in EVs and an electric Tiguan is believed to be part of the brand's plan to remain a major player in the market. The electric Tiguan would launch in 2025 or 2026, coinciding with the release of the redesigned ID 4. However, the car manufacturer has not confirmed which aspects of the car will be changed. The American and European variants will share similar designs, while the Chinese equivalents will reflect design trends in China. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major car brand to overhaul popular SUV into ‘completely different car' in bid to keep up with rivals
A MAJOR car brand is giving a huge makeover to one of its most popular cars and it's going to look 'completely different'. The iconic SUV is getting an overhaul as part of the 3 Volkswagen are overhauling the design of one of its most iconic vehicles Credit: Alamy 3 The ID 4 will be getting a brand new look Credit: Getty The ID 4 is the company's second electric car, after the ID 3. Now, as the model approaches its fifth anniversary, Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen's CEO, has said that the new version of the car is 'really beautiful'. Read More on Car News He added: "We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up." The Thomas said that the change is part of a bid for the brand to 'stay competitive' and for the car - which is its 'most important electric vehicle in numbers' - to look like Volkswagen's other designs. According to Autocar, the new version of the vehicle is known as the 'electric Tiguan' in Volkswagen's HQ, though it is unknown if the ID 4 will keep its name. Most read in Motors However, Thomas has confirmed that several major cars produced by Volkswagen will He said: '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. The Volkswagen ID3 GTX Performance 'Why would you let them go?' First launched in 2020, the ID 4 is the fourth best-selling electric car in Europe behind the ID 7 and ID 4. The electric Tiguan would launch in 2025 or 2026, coinciding with the release of the redesigned ID 4. However, the The American and European variants will share similar designs, while the Chinese equivalents will reflect design trends in 3 The car's design will greatly differ in China compared to Europe Credit: Getty
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major car brand to overhaul popular SUV into ‘completely different car' in bid to keep up with rivals
A MAJOR car brand is giving a huge makeover to one of its most popular cars and it's going to look 'completely different'. The iconic SUV is getting an overhaul as part of the beloved brand's bid to keep up with its rivals. 3 3 Volkswagen is the manufacturer of some of the UK's favourite cars, including the ID 4 SUV. The ID 4 is the company's second electric car, after the ID 3. Now, as the model approaches its fifth anniversary, Volkswagen has decided to give the car a modern makeover. Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen's CEO, has said that the new version of the car is 'really beautiful'. He added: "We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up." The car manufacturer is hoping to make the ID 4 closely resemble the upcoming ID 1 city cars and ID 2 superminis, which have a futuristic and sleek design. Thomas said that the change is part of a bid for the brand to 'stay competitive' and for the car - which is its 'most important electric vehicle in numbers' - to look like Volkswagen's other designs. According to Autocar, the new version of the vehicle is known as the 'electric Tiguan' in Volkswagen's HQ, though it is unknown if the ID 4 will keep its name. However, Thomas has confirmed that several major cars produced by Volkswagen will keep their names, He said: '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?' First launched in 2020, the ID 4 is the fourth best-selling electric car in Europe behind the ID 7 and ID 4. German-owned Volkswagen is keen to become a global leader in EVs and an electric Tiguan is believed to be part of the brand's plan to remain a major player in the market. The electric Tiguan would launch in 2025 or 2026, coinciding with the release of the redesigned ID 4. However, the car manufacturer has not confirmed which aspects of the car will be changed. The American and European variants will share similar designs, while the Chinese equivalents will reflect design trends in China. 3
Car and Driver
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Volkswagen ID.4 Will Usher In a New Generation for the Compact SUV
The Volkswagen ID.4 will be overhauled for a new generation with the introduction of the 2026 model year, according to a report by Autocar. Speaking to the U.K. publication, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer called the redesigned compact electric SUV "a huge step up." The report also suggests that the redesign could see VW drop the ID.4 name and instead refer to the model as the Electric Tiguan. The Volkswagen ID.4 is practical, it's comfortable, and it's got an attractive starting price, but the current generation is starting to show its age. With that in mind, the ID.4 is reportedly about to get a facelift, and it will be major enough that the 2026 model may as well be considered a new generation, according to a new story from Autocar. Marc Urbano | Car and Driver 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 Speaking to Autocar about the upcoming redesign, Volkswagen's CEO of passenger cars, Thomas Schäfer, called the new ID.4 "really beautiful." Schäfer suggested that the redesign will put the ID.4's looks more in line with those of the upcoming ID.1 and ID.2, both of which are headed for Europe. "We felt it needed to fit in with the new design language going forward, since it is still our most important electric vehicle in numbers," he said. Schäfer also hinted at just how much work has been done to overhaul the compact electric SUV. "We'll redo the ID.4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car—a huge step up," he said. "It's also to stay competitive for a while: let's [bring] a completely new one." Marc Urbano | Car and Driver 2024 Volkswagen ID.4. In fact, the changes could be headed for more than just the sheetmetal, with Autocar reporting that the ID.4 name may be dropped in favor of calling the SUV the Electric Tiguan. The name change hasn't been confirmed, but it wouldn't be totally out of the blue. Schäfer previously suggested to Autocar that it would be foolish of the brand not to cash in on its historical names. "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?" Schäfer asked the outlet. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Auto Blog
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Volkswagen's Big ID.4 Changes Should Worry Tesla And Ford
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Down in sales, VW needs to boost the appeal of its compact crossover Volkswagen recently reported sales for the second quarter of 2025, and it made for grim reading if you're a fan of the brand's electric crossover, the ID.4. Sales of this model for Q2 were 1,992 units in the U.S., a massive 65% decline over the same period last year. This result could be down to two things: a market more hesitant to EVs, and increased competition in the segment. So perhaps it comes as good news that Volkswagen is planning a major update of its ID.4 in 2026; in June, VW USA only said the 2026 ID.4 would get a mid-model-year facelift, without mentioning any details. Although technically a facelift, the update is said to be so significant that the crossover will appear more like an all-new model. Here's what's in store. 'Really Beautiful' Design Language 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 — Source: Volkswagen VW CEO Thomas Schäfer told Autocar that the updated crossover will be 'really beautiful,' with a design that more closely resembles other VW EVs like the ID.2. 'We'll redo the ID.4 completely inside and out,' said Schäfer. 'It will be a completely different car – a huge step up.' Known internally as the 'electric Tiguan,' Schäfer said next year's ID.4 'needed to fit in with the new design language going forward, since it is still our most important electric vehicle in numbers.' While the current ID.4 is a neatly styled crossover, it's not as sportily styled as rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E or Chevrolet Equinox EV, so a restyle will be welcome. Of course, there's also Tesla's Model Y to worry about, which recently underwent a substantial redesign of its own. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Fully Revised, More User-Friendly Interior 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 — Source: Volkswagen The interior will also get many changes for the updated ID.4, including a new dashboard and user interface. VW has recently been reintroducing traditional buttons for certain functions, and this ID.4 will also benefit from similar changes. A traditional round knob for the volume control will make a welcome return, following backlash over the brand's fussy slider controls. No powertrain details are known at this stage, but the typical improvements to range and efficiency are expected. The current ID.4 produces either 282 horsepower (single motor) or 335 hp (dual motor). The single-motor variant could do with a slight power bump, but the ID.4 has always been a smooth operator and not as overtly sporty as some rivals. Expected to arrive late in 2026, the heavily updated ID.4 should launch here as a 2027 model. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
