Volkswagen’s New Ace: Will the Electric “People’s Car” Retire the T-Cross?

Volkswagen has set the machinery in motion for what could become its most accessible EV yet. At the upcoming IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich, alongside the new T-Roc, the brand will unveil a near-production concept of its small electric SUV, effectively the battery-powered successor to the T-Cross. Positioned just below the ID.4 in the lineup, the newcomer has already been teased in sketches by design chief Andreas Mindt.

The renderings suggest a compact model with an unusually bold stance for a mainstream crossover: broad, sporty bumpers, chunky rear diffusers and wheels that look more rally stage than city street. The eventual production version will inevitably tone down these flourishes, since the mission is to deliver a true “people’s car” rather than a niche performance machine.

Underpinning the vehicle is Volkswagen’s simplified MEB Entry platform, which will also serve as the base for the upcoming ID.Every1 and ID.2All hatchbacks. Buyers can expect both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants, the latter with a dual-motor setup.

Production is slated for Pamplona, Spain, in the same plant that currently builds the combustion-powered T-Cross and Taigo. Sharing the line will be Škoda’s Epiq, first shown as a concept last year and now edging closer to series production.

With pricing tipped to fall between €25,000 and €30,000, Volkswagen is not only chasing environmental credibility but also courting the buyers who have been priced out of EVs until now. The company hopes this small crossover can once again put the “people” back in “people’s car.”