The facelifted Volkswagen ID.4 will not only feature a significantly redesigned exterior, but a new name as well.
According to Automotive News, the heavily revised mid-size electric SUV will be sold as the ID. Tiguan. The name change has been heavily hinted at and speculated about, but the industry publication says it was confirmed by IG Metall, the union representing the automaker’s German factory workers, at a press conference held last week at Volkswagen’s Emden plant.
The Emden factory has been converted to EV-only production, and is currently one of two sites – along with Zwickau – in Germany manufacturing the ID.4.
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Last spied the other week, the revised ID.4 is a more extensive than usual mid-life facelift. While the overall shape hasn’t been altered, Volkswagen looks to have changed every exterior panel save the roof.
There are new doors and fenders, all of which sport crisper styling with a harder, and more defined shoulder running the length of the vehicle. Volkswagen has also squared off the wheel-arches, and replaced the lift-up door handles with pull-out units.
Although the prototype features stickers that mimic the current ID.4’s headlights and tail-lights, the facelift is expected to sport front and rear ends that closely resemble the latest petrol- and diesel-powered Tiguan.
Volkswagen has yet to officially confirm the ID.4 will be renamed ID. Tiguan, but Martin Sander, the Volkswagen brand’s chief of marketing and sales, toldAuto und Wirtschaft in May last year the brand’s new EV models “will get proper names again”.
This process started with the ID. Polo, which is based on the 2023 ID. 2all concept, and will see Volkswagen’s EVs revert to a normal design instead of a design language intended to appeal to “early adopters”.
The ID. Polo will have its full global debut some time this year, and so far the company has revealed the car’s drivetrain options and interior. The ID. Polo’s cabin sees the brand re-embracing physical buttons and dials for the most commonly used functions, as well as more luxurious materials for dashboard, doors and other common touch points.
It’s expected the ID. Tiguan will follow suit with a redesigned cabin where the much maligned capacitive buttons and sliders will be binned. Like the ID. Polo, the ID. Tiguan should also feature the company’s latest touchscreen infotainment system with faster response times and an improved interface.
Under the skin, the rechristened ID. Tiguan will use a heavily updated version of the MEB architecture. Cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology is likely to be adopted for some variants, with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion batteries to continue in longer-range versions.
The ID. Tiguan is expected to debut this year, but has yet to be officially confirmed for Australia. If it is preparing its Aussie visas, it likely won’t arrive Down Under until 2027.