VW ID. Buzz and ID. 3 GTX performance EV grades confirmed

Every Volkswagen ID. model will gain a GTX variant – including its Buzz van and ID.3 hatchback, Wolfsburg has confirmed.

The German manufacturer announced its performance GTX nameplate affixed to the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs will be rolled out across the rest of its fully-electric model range, with the ID.3 hatchback and ID. Buzz van set to benefit from the flagship treatment.

While the standard ID. Buzz and ID.3 are powered by a single 150kW, 310Nm electric motor on their rear axles, a GTX variant could amp up the outputs to 220kW and 460Nm with dual motors – matching the outputs of the existing MEB platform-based GTX counterparts.

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According to Volkswagen ID.'s head of sales and marketing, Silke Bagschik, roughly 40 per cent of ID.4 and ID.5 buyers have opted for the flagship spec GTX, prompting the marque to offer the variant in more of its electric models.

“The success of the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX confirms our strategy of positioning the GTX brand independently. Both models in their respective series have installation rates of almost 40 per cent,” said Bagschik.

“We will continuously expand this brand and offer a GTX variant for every ID. model in future – from the ID.3 to the ID. Buzz.”

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The ID.X concept will become the production-ready ID.3 GTX

In September last year, Volkswagen COO Ralf Brandstätter all but confirmed the ID.X concept would go into production as the ID.3 GTX, giving the brand's electric customers an alternative to its petrol-powered Golf R.

It will be the first time Volkswagen has offered a flagship van with the same performace specs as its passenger vehicles, although it's unclear as to whether the GTX nameplate witll be used across one or both of the ID. Buzz's passenger and commercial (Cargo) variants.

The announcement coincided with a minor update to both the ID.4 and ID.5 GTX, with both now gaining dual-zone climate control, a climate comfort windscreen, tinted side and rear windows, heated front seats, two USB-C ports and a variable centre console.

None of the ID. range is currently in Volkswagen's Australian plans for 2022, however its off-shoot Cupra will bring the Born EV to the local market later this year, followed by Skoda's Enyaq iV SUV in 2023.