VW presents the GTX variants of the ID.3 & ID.7

In the past, VW had already shown a show car of a sporty ID.3 with all-wheel drive, but the ID.3 GTX actually only has pure rear-wheel drive. This is good for a rear-heavy, sporty driving behaviour, but less so for traction and pure acceleration.

Since the regular ID.3 remained with the 150 kW electric motor even during its model update last spring and even after the introduction of the new drive generation in the ID.4/ID.5, it was only logical that the new APP550 should be reserved for the more powerful ID:3 GTX. And that’s exactly what happened – in two variants.

The ID.3 GTX comes with the familiar 210 kW output of the APP550. Above this is the ID.3 GTX Performance, which has an output of 240 kW. “This means that the electric compact sports car has the most powerful of all Volkswagen electric motors presented to date,” VW states in the press release. In both power levels, the electric motor develops a maximum torque of 545 Nm – which should be enough for 6.0 seconds or 5.6 seconds from a standstill to 100 km/h. However, these are still predicted values. What has been confirmed, however, is that the top speed increases to 180 km/h (GTX) and 200 km/h (GTX Performance).

There is also a slightly improved battery with 79 kWh energy content (net) instead of the familiar 77 kWh – 84 kWh gross installed in the underbody. According to VW, the DC charging capacity is up to 175 kW and the charging time should be reduced to 26 minutes. The combined WLTP range of the ID.3 GTX is expected to be around 600 km (forecast value).

The latest GTX lineup also includes sporty versions of the ID.7 and ID.7 Tourer. As the 210 kW version of the APP550 is already installed in these two models ex works, but no all-wheel drive version has been offered to date, Volkswagen is now making up for this – the ID.7 GTX is an all-wheel drive vehicle. The familiar 210-kW version remains at the rear, while an 80-kW engine is installed at the front axle. According to the Wolfsburg-based company, the system output is 250 kW – making the ID.7 Tourer GTX the most powerful VW estate ever built.

The battery version with 86 kWh announced for the ID.7 also makes its debut in the GTX models. This was also promised for the 210 kW rear-wheel drive model, but only the familiar 77 kWh battery was available at the market launch. The new 86 kWh battery can be charged with up to 200 kW, but VW has so far only given an approximate charging time of “well under 30 minutes” from ten to 80 per cent.

For the visual differentiation inside and out, the VW designers were inspired by the GTI combustion engines. Both the ID.3 GTX and the sporty ID.7 have their own front grille with a honeycomb look, but of course, only in the lower air intake on the electric models, there is no artificial radiator grille. The headlights each have a GTX-typical light graphic and there are numerous elements in high-gloss black on the bodywork – these parts are otherwise in silver. In combination with the sporty wheel rims, the black contrasting elements create a dynamic look.

Inside, there are sportier seats with red stitching and GTX lettering. Customised ergoActive seats in GTX design are also available as an option in the ID.3. A special multifunction steering wheel with GTX lettering is also available in all GTX versions.

There is also a new feature in the ID.3: in parallel with the debut of the new GTX models, the entire ID.3 model range is being given a new cockpit landscape. A 12.9-inch touchscreen is now installed, and the gear selector lever is detached from the housing of the enhanced ‘Digital Cockpit’ and designed separately – as in the ID.7, for example – as a steering column lever. This measure has created the space for the larger display. There is also the latest version of the IDA voice assistant with ChatGPT integration.

“With its spontaneous and superior power delivery, the new ID.3 GTX Performance is for me the electric counterpart to our sporty compact icon, the Golf GTI Clubsport. Of course, an electric drive and a turbocharged petrol engine each have their own unique character. Yet the powerful ID.3 GTX Performance and the pure Golf GTI Clubsport2 share the same fascinating lightness when they accelerate. Two modern sports cars, made by Volkswagen,” says Kai Grünitz, Board Member for Development at the VW brand. “With the ID.3 GTX, Volkswagen is transferring the iconic fascination of its compact GT models into the world of electric mobility. Driving pleasure and sustainability form a completely new alliance here.”

Source: Info via email