Could VW Be Plotting To BEAT Tesla's Model 3 To The Market With An Affordable EV Of Their Own?

By tuning into what Audi CEO Rupert Stadler had to say at the 2017 Vienna Motor Symposium, Car and Driver extrapolated a few bits of information on what the automaker is planning for the next few years in regards to electric vehicles. As part of the Volkswagen Group, Audi, along with Porsche and Volkswagen’s ID sub brand, is leading one of the more convincing charges against Tesla, and its weapon has thus far been shown to the world in the form of the e-tron Quattro.
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TomM - 5/15/2017 5:23:37 PM

+3 Boost

I believe what was meant was a total from scratch EV with a dedicated EV platform with over 200 mile range. The E-Golf is - at best - can do half the miles of a Tesla or Bolt - and is a compromise.

I believe that 200 miles may just be the minimum to get an EV to sell in any significant numbers to the public.

SanJoseDriver - 5/15/2017 5:50:02 PM

-3 Boost

The Model 3 starts shipping in 2-3 months, so there is no way VW will beat it to the market. VW might have a compelling Bolt alternative in a year or two, but I would be shocked if it was a true Model 3 competitor with Autopilot, Tesla performance, and the UI.

Speaking of Autopilot, Tesla is way ahead of the competition. One of my neighbors just got a Model X with AP2.0 and he says it can do 95% of the driving between San Jose and San Francisco. On the freeway you don't have to touch the wheel anymore, and it now works on regular off-freeway roads as if you have a leading car. Full self-driving in 2 years is not a stretch if the regulators approve it.

SanJoseDriver - 5/15/2017 5:53:01 PM

-4 Boost

Big typo, AP2 works off the freeway IF you have a leading car, not as if. It won't stop at stop at lights on its own yet.

SanJoseDriver - 5/15/2017 5:53:54 PM

-4 Boost

Sorry, I can't type today: "It won't stop at stoplights on its own yet"

MDarringer - 5/15/2017 7:45:00 PM

-3 Boost

I'm no fan of Tesla--I know...surprise...right???--but I'd go with a Model 3 over a VW Sharquida or whatever idiot name they'd give their EV. Maybe VW will get clever like GM with Volt and Bolt and go with Zap or Ohm.

vdiv - 5/16/2017 10:29:17 PM

+3 Boost

The eGolf is not too bad, especially the new 125 mile range version, just shows how uncommitted VW is to plugins. At the same time it show the potential of what the eGolf could be if they were.

SanJoseDriver - 5/20/2017 6:08:15 PM

+1 Boost

It won't look anywhere near that. VW prototypes do not look like the final product (unlike Tesla).

Hauerg - 5/15/2017 10:39:38 PM

0 Boost

Best to market includes a timeline.

Sonthe headline is BS.