Volkswagen has unveiled a brand-new version of its delectable electric hatch, the ID.3. Tellingly, the heavily revised, all-electric hatchback introduces not only a refreshed exterior and a brand-new cabin, but also larger batteries and a new name plucked from VW’s archives. ID Rebrand Begins; Cabin Design Everyone Hated Is Gone VolkswagenDubbed the ID.3 Neo in a nod to the hatchback’s original development codename, it's the first in a series of planned models based around a new True Volkswagen philosophy, apparently designed to put the consumer first. Though the ID.3 nomenclature has been retained, VW’s ID range will move away from number designations in a bid to sound less electric. The soon-to-be-updated ID.4, for example, is set to be rebranded as the ID Tiguan.VolkswagenThe biggest change for the new generation ID.3 is the cabin, following negative customer pushback. Physical controls return to the now full-length center console and multi-function steering wheel, replacing the unpopular and difficult-to-use haptic switches. Each window now has a separate button on the driver’s door, replacing the previous, fiddly toggle switches, while a volume knob for the sound system and push buttons for the climate control have been re-introduced to the dash.The previously curved (now straight) dashboard features a 12.9-inch touchscreen for the new Innovision infotainment system, the latter of which has also been upgraded following a raft of customer complaints on 2024's facelifted model. A 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit is mounted in front of the driver, which, in a neat nod to VW’s history, can be configured to look like the instrument cluster on a 1980s VW Golf. To tie this modernized look together, the steering wheel gets a light-up VW logo in the center, and sportier, flattened rims top and bottom. Exterior Tweaks; Three Power Options With Bigger Batteries Available VolkswagenThe redesign continues, to a slightly more muted effect, on the outside, as the ID.3 Neo features a brand-new front end with a continuous light strip and an illuminated logo. This is said to be more in-line with the Pure Positive design language used for the upcoming ID Polo (formerly the ID.2) and the ID Cross. More subtle changes at the rear include the roof, rear spoiler and boot lid painted in body color, tweaks that are said to make the Neo appear wider and more planted than before.Three different power outputs are available, each with larger batteries boasting extended electric range. The entry-level ID.3 Neo Trend combines a 50-kilowatt-hour battery with a 170-horsepower motor, while the mid-tier 58 kWh battery is mated with a 190-hp motor. The most dynamic setup features a 79 kWh battery and a 231-hp electric motor, which can be optioned on both the ID.3 Neo Life and ID.3 Neo Style. All-electric range has been upped to 391 miles on the most frugal option, up to 20 miles more than before.VolkswagenWhile prices have not yet been confirmed, pre-sales for the new ID.3 Neo begin tomorrow in Germany and select European markets. It’s not yet known whether the updated ID.3 Neo will be offered in the United States, but with VW re-focusing its efforts on electric SUVs in the US, this seems highly unlikely any time soon.