Volkswagen tests interest for a convertible version of electric ID.3

A convertible version of the all-electric ID.3 is being touted by Volkswagen – but will it be warmly received?

The ID.3 – Volkswagen’s first electric vehicle in its new ID series – is based on the “Neo” concept and was first released in Europe in 2020 then followed up by the ID.4 compact SUV, which is expected to be the first ID vehicle to arrive in Australia in 2022.

A number of other ID vehicles are also in the works including an all-electric Kombi known as the ID.Buzz that the German carmaker says will also be the first VW to use fully autonomous technology.

Now, Volkswagen is considering developing a convertible ID.3, also known as a cabrio, to join the ID pack, or at the very least is using the idea as a sounding  board to nurture engagement with key executives, namely VW chair Herbert Diess and CEO Ralf Brandstätter.

It’s also an example of the emerging public relations strategy Volkswagen seems to be undertaking as it seeks to achieve its goal as a leader in the electric vehicle market, emulating to a certain extent the role that Elon Musk plays for Tesla as the sole gatekeeper to communication with the company.

On Monday, Volkswagen released two images (above and below) and a series of links to Diess’ and Brandstätter’s various channels on Linked In, Twitter and Weibo, as well as to posts about the convertible idea on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

“An ID.3 convertible? Sounds quite appealing: enjoying nature with the top down, with the instant, but silent electric punch. This could provide an entirely new, extraordinary feeling of freedom,” said Brandstätter via LinkedIn.

“I admit: a very tempting idea. We are still pondering how to turn this attractive concept into reality. Just in case, our design team has already sketched out some initial ideas.

“The most exciting question: what do YOU think? Would electric driving and an open-air-experience make a perfect match?”

While more than 2,000 have given the thumbs up to Brandstätter’s post, Volkswagen’s Twitter poll is perhaps the best visual indicator of what people do think of the idea: with 6 hours left until the poll ends, two out of three of the 1,600 people that had responded to the post at the time of writing voted a resounding “Awesome!”.

Comments though have been varied.

“Absolutely. That’s what is missing. Plenty of luxury, SUV and vans in the making. No convertibles anywhere,” said one follower to Diess on Twitter.

“Yes please!!! I’ve been waiting for a replacement of the cabrio for years and have already sworn off ICE vehicles (currently drive an e-golf) so I’ll be among your first buyers,” said another.

“Not wild about the wheels, but otherwise, YES! Reminiscent of a Beetle convertible and similar to a Mini convertible. (P.S. I always liked the Eos.),” said a third.

But others question the sense in converting the ID.3 to a convertible, suggesting the height of the ID.3 would mean it didn’t fit in the compact style of a convertible.

Another questioned if it would sell: “No you shouldn’t. Everyone here says that VW should build this but if you think about it almost no one here who says you should, would buy this over the normal ID.3?”

A third said Volkswagen needs to fix the issues with the original ID.3 – which has notoriously required updates to fix software bugs – first.

“Just fix the ID3 in the first place. Horrible quality and many technical issues.”

The rolling results are also interesting because this is not actually the first all-electric convertible that Volkswagen has considered making.

It’s just two years since Volkswagen touted an electric dune buggy, unveiling the curvy homage to the original “Meyers Manx” buggy at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

With its big wheels, no roof and washable interior, the electric dune buggy idea was unfortunately shelved, but clearly the idea of an open-top electric car is still something Volkswagen thinks could work.

If they do it, the ID convertible would join the likes of the Smart fortwo ED and the Fiat e500, but would sales prove as successful as the initial responses might suggest?

As automotive analyst Matthas Schmidt put it in response to Diess’ Twitter post on the ID convertible idea, “Market data says no… Emotions say yes. What does EV range say?”