An electric revolution is sweeping the world right now. The future of mobility is changing, as the world knows it needs to move to a much more sustainable future if our planet is to survive. Whether you think electric vehicles are the future or not, they look like they are here to stay for the medium term at the very latest, and so many manufacturers have been pouring in millions of dollars to get ready to become EV only. One company that is giving it its best shot is that of Volkswagen.
By their own admission, Volkswagen is probably a little bit behind the competition when it comes to EVs. Tesla has stormed into an early lead and the likes of Hyundai and Kia seem like they are going to catch up the soonest. However, that doesn’t mean VW is producing bad cars or anything. They actually seem to be producing some great EVs, and their latest machine is that of the Volkswagen ID.5, and with it has come the GTX. This is a 323-mile range, hot version of the ID.5 which is based upon the earlier ID.4 SUV.
The Basics Of The ID.5
Before we get into the ID.5 GTX, let's look at the basic ID.5, the standard version. The standard ID.5 will be rear-driven and will have either a 172 hp motor or a 201 hp motor available for the customer to choose from. Neither are going to win any speed awards, with the 0-60 times of the two versions set to be 10.4 seconds and 8.4 seconds respectively. Those motors will be paired with a 77 kWh battery, standard in countries such as the UK where the car will be initially sold. Thanks to some improved aerodynamics, the 323-mile range is a slight increase over the ID.4.
Both versions of the ID.5 will come with the latest software generations 3.0 from Volkswagen and allow for over-the-air updates and all manner of additional functions. The body-styling of the two ID.5s is a bit different from that of the ID.4. The new car has a much more streamlined look to it over its predecessor, and that streamlined look is why the car now has a bit of a range boost over the ID.4. The ID.5 GTX is very much seen as the premium option of the two new vehicles.
The Full Details Of The ID.5 GTX
Now, let's take a look at the sportier version of the two cars. As you might expect, the GTX is a much more performance-focussed version of the two cars, and that means an additional motor on the ID.5’s front axle. This bumps the power output to 295 hp and gives a 0-60 time of a much more respectable 6.3 seconds. That is the kind of performance we expect from a big, electric SUV. However, there are downsides. The main one is that the range decreases thanks to that extra power, but the GTX still has a range of some 304 miles. Plenty for pretty much everyone.
Given that it is much punchier in a straight line that can only mean one thing. The GTX is a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive affair meaning that power is delivered, in an instant, to all four wheels. The GTX will have an e-motor on both the front and rear axles, allowing for that extra punch and performance in a straight line. Clearly, VW has pulled out all the stops to ensure that the GTX is as potent as it could be. However, it makes you wonder if they could have just made the standard ID.5 as good as this and not required a new, special performance version.
Even More Dynamic Looks
Volkswagen has tried to make sure that it isn’t just in the power stakes where the ID.5 GTX stands out from its more basic sibling. The GTX has IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, with intelligent high beams and 3D LED rear lights as standard. VW says that they think this gives the ID.5 GTX a much more dynamic appearance over its standard sibling. Both cars have quite an impressively low drag coefficient, with the standard ID.5 having one of just 0.26 and the GTX having a drag coefficient of just 0.27. Highly impressive stuff.
Volkswagen Looking To The Future
The ID range very much seems to be growing now in the Volkswagen family, and it’s a clear sign that the company is looking more and more into the future. The brand has probably been behind even the likes of Audi, under the same umbrella of course, when it comes to EVs. Other companies have just got that head start over them. But it was only a matter of time until the big German giant got their act together. It is though just a shame that, for now, their work is again restricted to big SUVs. We need more small EVs on the road. If Honda can do it, then so can VW. Let's see what happens in the next few years.
Source: Volkswagen