OFFICIAL Wraps come off 'more aggressive' VW ID.3

VOLKSWAGEN'S ID.3 is barely two and a years But feedback and the fast-paced introduction of many rivals have persuaded VW to bring the usual mid-life enhancement of its first bespoke electric car forward by 12 months.

- John Mcllroy

On the outside, there are new colour options including the vivid Dark Olivine Green of the vehicle pictured here - plus fresh headlights and tail-light clusters that create an arch-shaped motif and feature X-shaped brake lights. The front bumper is modified for a sharper look, while the black plastic area at the base of the windscreen has been removed altogether, and replaced by a larger, body-colored bonnet.

Claas-Lennard Stöhr, the ID.3's product manager, says the tweaks are designed to move the model away from its 'cute' image. "With the new front end, there's definitely a little more aggression," he told us. "It's still a friendly model, but the sharper bumper and the surfacing on the bonnet mean it's more grown-up, a little more mature."

There are bigger alterations inside, where VW says it has listened directly to customer feedback. There are more areas padded with foam and the redesigned door inlays incorporate softer, larger surfaces. Based on our time with an early car in a studio in Germany, the environment does feel more upmarket, particularly thanks to the double stitching and padded areas on the fascia.

The cabin also features greater use of sustainable materials; its fabrics are animal-free, and the microfibre material used on the door trims and seat covers, called Artvelours Eco, is made from 71 per cent recycled plastics.