VW ID. Buzz gets an all-wheel drive – with a sporty GTX variant

Many people think of practicality and convenience in connection with ID. Buzz, as it is the MEB model with the most storage space. It is also iconic because it is reminiscent of the legendary Bulli with its often two-tone paintwork. Only one word has rarely been used to describe the ID. Buzz: sporty.

That will likely change now, as VW Commercial Vehicles has presented the ID. Buzz as a GTX. It adopts the electric drive with 250 kW system output from the ID.7 GTX. The new and significantly improved APP550 rear motor with 210 kW and 560 Nm of torque alone is supplemented by an asynchronous motor on the front axle. It is called AKA150, delivers 80 kW and offers 134 Nm of torque. VWCV had already hinted that it could offer the ID. Buzz with all-wheel drive in addition to the 150 kW rear-wheel drive. The fact that would be a GTX and not an ID. Buzz 4Motion was not foreseeable.

The ID. Buzz will also feature the slightly improved 79 kWh battery introduced in the ID.3 GTX instead of the familiar 77 kWh battery. However, this battery is only available in the ID. Buzz GTX with the regular wheelbase. In the future, the extended wheelbase version will only be available with the new 86 kWh battery, which VW has already announced for the ID.7 – but is not yet on the market.

With this new all-wheel drive, the sporty Buzz can accelerate to 100 kph in 6.5 seconds and, according to VWCV, offer “optimum traction on any surface.” Whether the ID. Buzz GTX, with its standard 19-inch wheels or the optional 21-inch wheels, will ever be driven off-road, is a whole different question.

However, the EV’s utility value has increased in one respect, even if it is the sports version. With the standard wheelbase, the towing capacity increases to 1,800 kilograms- that is 800 kilograms more than before. With the long wheelbase, the ID. Buzz GTX can still tow 1,600 kilograms. According to VW, the MEB van will be an “electric towing vehicle for bikes, boats or horse trailers.” However, there is no information on consumption in trailer mode.

The information on charging power is interesting. The 79 kWh battery of the ID. Buzz GTX can be charged with up to 185 kW, and it takes 26 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. The ID.3 GTX can charge with about 175 kW. On the other hand, the 86-kWh battery of the long-wheelbase version can be charged with up to 200 kW peak, as in the ID.7, and the standard charging process takes “less than half an hour.” In the German version of the press release, VWCV specified this to be 26 minutes. However, the manufacturer has not yet specified the range for either battery version.

The GTX Buzz can be recognised from the outside by the redesigned bumper with a black ventilation grille and redesigned daytime running lights. There are also the aforementioned wheel rims and several GTX logos. The “Cherry red” colour is exclusive to the GTX (as shown in the press photos). As an option, it can be ordered “in combination with Mono silver metallic as a two-tone paint finish.” In addition, there are six familiar uni and four two-tone paint finishes.

The sporty character is also apparent on the inside, with the black headlining and other dark colours. The adjustable comfort seats with memory function also feature the GTX design. In addition, the Buzz now also has a 12.9-inch touchscreen (instead of 12 inches) and ChatGPT integration in the infotainment system. The luggage compartment holds between 1,121 and 2,123 litres on the standard wheelbase. The extended ID. Buzz GTX has a capacity of between 1,340 and 2,469 litres.

The market launch of both ID. Buzz GTX will take place in the second half of the year. Pre-sales will start in the summer. Prices will also be available then. At this point, it is not clear how expensive the ID. Buzz GTX will be.

Source: Information per mail