Volkswagen has taken the covers off two new sporty GTX variants for its electric ID.3 family car and ID.7 fastback saloon, due to be launched “soon”, while also teasing what could be the ID.Buzz GTX.
The GTX line is Volkswagen’s “sporty” upper-end variant and has already been a huge success on other VW electric ID. family models – with every fifth ID.4 and ID.5 sold in Europe a GTX model.
Volkswagen gave us our first glimpse last week of the upcoming ID.3 GTX and ID.7 GTX Tourer, set to be launched “soon” with their own individual exterior designs including front and rear light signatures, sporty interior design details, and powerful performance drives.
The VW ID.3 GTX will be launched in two variants – a regular ID.3 GTX and the ID.3 GTX Performance, both of which will be powered by the company’s latest APP550 electric motor on the rear axle.
Both variants will be fitted with a 79kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a range of “about” 600 kilometres. The regular ID.3 GTX will put out 210kW while the ID.3 GTX Performance will be able to put out 240kW. With this power, the regular GTX will boast acceleration of 6-seconds from 0-100km/h, and 5.6 seconds for the Performance variant.
DC fast charging up to 175kW is available, capable of charging the battery from 10% to 80% in only 26 minutes.
Conversely, only a month after VW unveiled the ID.7 Tourer, it is now taking the wraps off its ID.7 GTX Tourer. The dual-motor all-wheel ID.7 GTX Tourer puts a 210kW electric drive motor on the rear and a 80kW motor on the front axle, boasting power output of 250kW, making it the most powerful Volkswagen estate car ever built.
For both new GTX models there are a host of interior and exterior changes designed to enhance the looks of an already attractive car.
The ID.3 GTX features new front bumper and a new independent black air intake in a diamond-style design, new daytime running lights on the left and right, and newly designed side sills. New 20-inch Skagen alloy wheels are fitted as standard.
Inside, premium ergonomic sport seats in fabric and leatherette are similarly equipped as standard, with red decorative stitching on the seats. A multifunction steering wheel, high-quality cockpit surface, and a new infotainment system which will feature ChatGPT.
For the ID.7 GTX Tourer, a new distinctive bumper with honeycomb grille and light graphics characteristic for GTX models set the variant apart from the base ID.7 Tourer. A panoramic sunroof with smart glass is available for both ID.7 models, while the GTX Tourer includes 20-inch Skagen alloy wheels with a 21-inch alloy wheel available as an optional extra.
Inside, customised heated seats are available in the front with perforated GTX lettering in the backrests, the GTX-specific multifunction steering wheel with red decorative stitching, red piping on the seats, and red seams on the cockpit and door panels.
Update: Volkswagen also teased what was almost certainly the upcoming ID.Buzz GTX on its Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Instagram page, which it revealed a few days later.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.