The first Volkswagen model with the GTX label is now here: this abbreviation stands for a new level of sportiness from Volkswagen which will continue the tradition of the successful GTI, GTD and GTE models. The ID.4 GTX is therefore the new top-of-the-range model in the purely electric ID.4 model series. Its two electric motors – one each on the front and rear axles – combine to deliver a maximum output of 220 kW (299 PS) and work together as an electric dual-motor all-wheel drive. This technology offers a high level of driving stability and large power reserves – in short: more driving pleasure. The ID.4 model series will be launched into the world’s largest market segment – the compact SUV class. As such, it marks a strategic milestone in the Volkswagen Group’s electric mobility campaign. The Group already managed to more than triple sales of its purely electric models last year and plans to become the global leader for electric mobility by 2025 at the latest. Its plans for the next five years include investments of around 46 billion euros in electric mobility and the hybridisation of its fleet, with the proportion of purely electric vehicles in Europe set to rise to up to 70 percent by 2030. The abbreviation GTX is used to label the sporty top-of-the-range model in each ID. product line. Like GTI, GTE and GTD, it is its own product brand – enhancing Volkswagen’s world of electric mobility with new, modern athleticism. The letters GT have long embodied driving pleasure, while the X is now forging a bridge to the mobility of tomorrow. Sustainability and sportiness are not mutually exclusive, but instead complement one another perfectly. The ID.4 GTX is set to be followed by further models with the new branding.
An entire ecosystem of sustainable electric mobility will be established around these new models. Customers opting for an ID.4 GTX will receive a car that has been produced in a carbon-neutral process and that is handed over with a carbon-neutral balance sheet. And if it is charged using sustainably produced electricity – such as Volkswagen Naturstrom – it will remain carbon-neutral on the road, too. Together, the electric drive motors of the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX deliver a maximum output of 220 kW (299 PS). The rear motor produces 150 kW (204 PS) and a torque of 310 Nm, while the front motor generates 80 kW (109 PS) and 162 Nm. The top-of-the-range sporty model sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds – one tenth of a second faster than the Golf GTI. It reaches its electronically governed top speed at 180 km/h. The ID.4 GTX has an energy consumption of 16.3 kWh in the NEDC driving cycle, and the 77 kWh battery permits a customer-oriented range of 340 to 480 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. A completely new drive system makes its debut in the VW ID.4 GTX: the sporty E-SUV has an electric drive motor on both the front and rear axles. These motors work together when needed, creating a fully variable all-wheel drive system. The dual-motor all-wheel drive system does without clutches and a propshaft between the axles – this makes it extremely fast and highly efficient. The two electric drive motors are not just closely integrated with each other, they are also linked to the control systems for the brakes and running gear. And then there is the highlight of the new ID.4 GTX: the Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which has been developed by Volkswagen to coordinate and monitor the complex interactions between the various individual systems.
Drivers can decide themselves how comfortable, stable or sporty they want the ID.4 GTX to be – with the driving profile selection (standard). This influences the progressive steering, electric drive motors and the adaptive chassis control DCC (only in the optional Sports Plus package) and offers a choice of five modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual (in the Sports Plus package) and Traction. Eco mode is designed for efficient driving, while Comfort mode ensures high driving comfort. Individual mode offers the driver additional options: it is possible to choose intermediate settings between Comfort and Sport or to make both modes even more extreme. Traction mode is intended specifically for driving on loose or slippery surfaces and features permanent all-wheel drive up to speeds of around 20 km/h. All control operations are therefore designed for maximum grip, the motor torques are reduced and the DCC shock absorbers are adjusted to a softer setting. Compared with a car with a conventional drive system, the precision of the control mechanisms in the ID.4 GTX achieves a completely new dimension. One reason for this is that these mechanisms no longer work on the basis of drive torques but rather are based on motor speeds. The other reason is the fact that the two electric drive motors implement the control commands faster than any combustion engine. The Volkswagen ID.4 GTX becomes a cornering specialist in Sport mode, in which the front electric drive motor is always activated. The driver can feel the precise response to steering commands when turning into bends at speed. If the controlled DCC shock absorbers are on board, these make the car hug the road and counteract centrifugal forces. When the driver presses the right pedal on exiting the bend, they can experience the powerful traction of the dual-motor all-wheel drive system.
In the context of its We Charge concept, Volkswagen offers a universal package for convenient, connected and sustainable charging for electric cars. This offers the ideal solution for any situation – whether on a long journey, out and about, or at home. The We Connect ID. app provides simple access to the charging ecosystem. The Volkswagen ID.4 GTX is an all-rounder that can confidently tackle even long journeys. Its battery has a net energy content of 77 kWh and weighs 486 kilograms. The battery housing is made from aluminium profiles and a strong frame and contains twelve battery modules, each of which integrates 24 cells with flexible exterior shells. A base plate with integrated water channels regulates the temperature of the modules. Volkswagen guarantees that the battery will still have at least 70 percent of its original capacity after eight years or a mileage of 160,000 km. With We Charge, Volkswagen customers can access one of Europe’s largest networks, which currently has more than 200,000 charging points. Using the standard Mode 3 cable, the ID.4 GTX charges with alternating current (AC) with an output of up to 11 kW. At a DC quick-charging station, like those offered by IONITY, it can be recharged ready for the next 300 km in around 30 minutes (according to WLTP) – with a charging power of up to 125 kW. Volkswagen is investing heavily in Europe’s quick-charging network and is working with its partners to create a network of 18,000 charging points by 2025.
