Volkswagen is updating the ID.3 for Europe yet again

As Volkswagen intensifies its electric offensive with new electric models, it is making sure not to leave its pioneering electric hatch behind.

Barely a year after receiving its first thorough facelift, the ID.3 has gotten yet another extensive update - specifically, in the form of the ID.3 Pro S. Among the upgrades this time are an upgraded infotainment system, better charging capacity, and stronger yet also more efficient iteration of its previous electric motor.

The car's gear selector now takes the form of a steering column (as opposed to being attached to the driver's display previously). Meanwhile, its infotainment screen has grown to 12.9 inches, and also runs Volkswagen's latest operating system

Starting on the inside, the ID.3 Pro S has gotten Volkswagen's latest generation infotainment system, featuring a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen with a new, more intuitive menu structure. 

Concurrently, Volkswagen states that the car's multifunction steering wheel has also been enhanced. Meanwhile, the driving mode selector - previously attached to the driver's display - has now taken the form of a more sensibly positioned steering column switch, as seen on more recent models like the ID.7 and the all-new Tiguan. 

Additionally, the touch sliders underneath the infotainment display - used to adjust volume and temperature - now feature illumination. For the best audiophile experience on board, a 12-channel, 480W Harman Kardon sound system is now also offered as an option, featuring four preconfigured sound settings.

A revised electric motor doesn't just imbue the ID.3 with more power, but more range too 

It's on the move, too, however, that the ID.3 Pro S sets itself apart. The hatch now gets a revised electric motor that is not only more powerful, but also more efficient than its predecessor. 

This now produces 170kW (228bhp) as standard for German market variants. Customers in other markets have to settle for a less powerful 150kW (201bhp) instead, which - perhaps rather annoyingly - requires a subscription service for the extra 20kW of output to be unlocked (Volkswagen has fittingly dubbed this "power-on-demand".) 

Additionally, the extra efficiency of the motor means the ID.3 Pro S, powered by a 77kWh battery, has an impressive combined WLTP range of up to 559km.

Finally, getting the necessary juice back into the car's battery now promises to be more fuss-free than before, too. A new thermal management, for instance, makes sure the battery is pre-conditioned to an optimum temperature ahead of charging. On this note, too, the ID.3 Pro S's battery can now support DC charging to a higher maximum of 175kW.