Volkswagen is offering an innovative approach to car ownership, allowing owners of its ID.3 hatchback to pay a subscription fee for access to the full performance potential of their vehicle. The ID.3 Pro and Pro S models are listed with 201bhp, but buyers can upgrade to reach 228bhp by paying £16.50 per month or £649 for a lifetime subscription.
This move is not unique to Volkswagen, as BMW previously faced criticism for its own subscription-based service offering features like heated seats. The Polestar 2 also offers a similar performance pack.
The benefits of the upgrade include a 27bhp increase in net power and an enhancement of maximum torque from 265Nm to 310Nm. However, it is unclear what would happen if owners were to “jailbreak” their car and manually switch on the extra power, potentially invalidating the warranty or leading to legal action.
Volkswagen maintains that offering more power to customers is nothing new and has been done with petrol and diesel vehicles in the past. The company argues that providing this option allows customers to have a sportier driving experience without committing to a higher initial purchase price.
Source: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/367566/forget-netflix-volkswagen-locks-horsepower-behind-paid-subscription