The future of electric vehicles in India sure looks bright with the sheer number of EV offerings across various segments, and it seems that Volkswagen is keen to cash in on the opportunity with the ID.4 GTX. We spotted an example of the mid-size SUV being tested recently, and it is likely that a launch is imminent. Here’s what we know about the SUV so far.
The ID.4 is the second car under Volkswagen’s electric car brand (the first being the ID.3), and it is based on the brand’s MEB platform for electric cars. The overall design is very lively and youthful, with the stubby-looking silhouette frankly being quite different and refreshing from anything that’s on sale in the country currently. At the front, the Volkswagen emblem takes prominence, being nestled between the curvy headlamps and the face is a very fresh sight. Also note that the GTX is the go-faster of the standard ID.4, and this fact is distinguished cosmetically by the blackened roof and the roof spoiler, along with a smattering of GTX badges and body coloured cladding on the sides. Similar to a Golf GTI, the ID.4 GTX gets vertically-stacked LED lights. At the rear, a full-width light bar is standard but the GTX gets a 3D effect for the light signature design. Globally, the ID.4 GTX comes standard with 20-inch wheels which can be upgraded to 21-inchers though we cannot confirm yet if the same sizes are India-bound. The GTX also gets an exclusive Metallic Kings Red paint option.
We didn’t get a closer look at the interiors of the ID.4 GTX, but globally, the interior is offered with color contrast materials. The dashboard gets dark blue panels with contrasting stitching and you also get a digital instrument cluster. A 10-inch infotainment is standard on the lower-spec units sold globally, though it is likely that we will only get the top-spec trim in India with the larger 12-inch infotainment. There are GTX logos on the seats and steering wheel as compared to the standard ID.4, and the EV also gets ambient lighting along with a HUD.
As mentioned earlier, the GTX is the performance version of the ID.4 and the GTX moniker will live on as the go-faster badge for Volkswagen’s EV. The standard ID.4 only comes with a single electric motor but the GTX gets two, producing a combined power output of 295bhp. The claimed 0-100kmph time is 6.2 seconds, the top speed being electronically limited to 180kmph, 20kmph higher than the standard car. The ID.4 GTX is primarily in rear-wheel-drive, but the EV also gets an AWD system that sends power to the front wheels when it detects slippage or when the driver pushes the accelerator hard. The GTX uses the same 77kWh battery pack as the regular ID.4, but the WLTP-tested range drops down to 479km from the regular ID.4's 520km.
With examples spotted during testing, it is likely that the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX will be launched in India very soon, with prices hovering around the Rs 50 to 65 lakh mark. This puts it up against rivals like the Kia EV6 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge, and there’s also the possibility that Volkswagen will price the ID.4 by pricing it more aggressively and offering it in multiple trim levels, with the regular trim being offered along with the GTX that we spotted. Will it deliver on the Thrill of Driving? Cannot wait to find out!