VW will offer more powerful, sleeker, go-anywhere ID4 variant

Volkswagen plans a variant of its ID4 full-electric car that will have more power, a sportier design and all-wheel drive, company sources told Automotive News Europe.

The ID4 GTX will have an output of 225 kilowatts (306 hp), more than the most powerful versions of the ID3 hatchback and ID4 crossover that are currently available.

The difference is that the ID4 GTX adds a 75 kW (102 hp) electric motor to the front axle while also having the same 150 kW electric motor as its siblings on the rear. By delivering power to both axles, the ID4 GTX provides all-wheel drive.

The extra output will propel the ID4 GTX from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds, company sources said, easily topping the 8.5 seconds the ID4 Pro Performance needs to reach the same speed.

The downside of having electric motors on both axles is that the ID4 GTX's estimated WLTP-certified range will be 470 km compared with the 520 km of the ID4 Pro Performance. Both versions of the compact crossover will have a 77-kilowatt-hour battery.

The ID4 GTX will have a more dynamic look than its siblings to match its "no regrets" marketing claim as VW looks to appeal to people with adventurous lifestyles, the sources said.