Volkswagen’s Tesla Model 3 Rival Begins Public Testing With 435 Miles Range
Compared to how Volkswagen was perceived by the world a little over half a decade ago, when the infamous Dieselgate emissions scandal was still fresh, the German carmaker is now rolling toward an entirely different direction.
Spy photographers have recently managed to spot a pre-production prototype of the Aero sedan during its first public outing, and it leaves us with more questions than answers.
First of all, what you see in the images above is not a mildly camouflaged production version but more like an architecture mule, with a hodgepodge of various Volkswagen parts being tacked on it.
Second of all, things like the proportions, wheelbase and overhangs are identical to the end product, including the hatchback solution for the luggage compartment, thus making the Aero more like a Tesla Model S instead of a notchback like the Model 3, with which it will compete.
To be available in both single-motor, RWD and dual-motor with all-wheel-drive, the production version of the Aero is said to come with a battery large enough to give the model a range of around 700 km (435 miles). That range is actually quoted by none other than Ralf Brandstätter, the CEO of VW passenger cars, so we don’t even need to speculate if it’s true or not.
Source: www.autoevolution.com
