Hot new Volkswagen ID.4 GTX electric car on sale now from £48,510
Volkswagen’s performance-edged ID.4 GTX has a 295bhp four-wheel drive electric powertrain and a maximum range of 301 miles
The Volkswagen ID.4 GTX electric SUV is on sale in the UK now, with prices starting from £48,510. It’s the first model in the German brand’s new GTX performance EV line-up, which will become the electric equivalent to the petrol-powered GTI range.
Buyers have their choice of two specifications, called GTX and GTX Max. The cheaper model comes as standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlamps, and a sporty body kit, with a unique front bumper and new rear diffuser. Volkswagen’s Sport Package also brings variable power steering and lowered sports suspension.
Inside, buyers get stainless steel pedals, sports seats and a new GTX-branded sports steering wheel. There’s also plenty of technology, such as keyless go, a rear-view camera, a 12-inch infotainment system, a 5.3-inch digital gauge cluster and an augmented reality head-up display.
The Volkswagen ID.4 GTX Max is priced from £55,540. It comes with a host of extras, such as adaptive dampers, three-zone climate control and a pair of electrically adjustable, heated and massaging sports seats. There’s some more driver assistance technology, too, such as lane assist, side assist and a 360-degree parking camera.
Volkswagen also offers a range of optional extras, wrapped up in its Design Package Plus and Sport Package Plus add-ons. The former adds a panoramic sunroof, while the latter gives buyers the option to spec adaptive dampers on the cheaper GTX variant.
Both option packs also include Volkswagen’s innovative ID.Light system. It’s an animated LED strip mounted on top of the dashboard, which is used to give the driver navigation instructions and also communicate nearby hazards using data sourced from Volkswagen’s Car2X connected technology.
New Volkswagen ID.4 GTX: drivetrain and platform
Like the standard ID.4, the GTX is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, although that car’s rear-mounted 201bhp electric motor is now supported by an extra motor on the front axle, to deliver a little extra performance four-wheel drive.
Performance specs are the same for the ID.4 GTX and ID.4 GTX Max. Both use the same 77kWh battery pack and both develop 295bhp and 310Nm of torque, which Volkswagen says is enough for a 0–62mph time of 6.2 seconds and a limited top speed of 112mph.
Under normal driving conditions, the ID.4 GTX is propelled by the rear electric motor alone. However, when the car recognises a loss of traction or a demand for more power through the accelerator, it activates the front motor to keep the SUV planted or make it accelerate as fast as it can.
Volkswagen quotes two range figures, which are dependent on trim. The cheaper ID.4 GTX can cover a claimed 301 miles between trips to the plug, while the more lavishly equipped ID.4 GTX Max will travel up to 291 miles.
Charging capability remains a constant between the two models though, with both able to take on 199 miles of range in just 30 minutes when connected to a 125kW DC rapid charger. When connected to a 7.2kW wallbox, a full recharge takes 12 hours and 40 minutes.
The ID.4 GTX’s practicality hasn’t been affected by the switch to an all-wheel drive powertrain, either. Like the standard car, it offers 543 litres of storage space with the seats in place or 1,575 litres with the rear bench stowed. Volkswagen also offers an optional tow-bar, allowing the SUV to haul a maximum brake weight of 1,200kg.
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