Announced with great pomp and circumstance, Volkswagen's MEB platform is destined exclusively for a variety of current and upcoming electric vehicles that will eventually equal if not even surpass the number of the ICE-powered Volkswagens.

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The road toward all-electric Volkswagen mobility was first paved with an increasing number of plug-in hybrids and EVs like the e-Up! or the e-Golf after the Dieselgate scandal, with the MEB architecture being the magnum opus of VWs dream for an electron-based future.

So far, we only have the Golf-sized ID.3 and the ID.4 crossover, but the ID lineup will grow exponentially in the upcoming years to include various other crossovers, hatchbacks, and even sedans.

What the Volkswagen ID lineup doesn’t have so far is a sportier trim, something to remind people of the Golf GTI or all the R versions of ICE-powered Vee-dubs.

Well, as it happens, the recently launched Volkswagen ID.4 crossover will be the first model to receive a tentatively named GTX version, which will apparently be the equivalent of an all-wheel-drive GTI version.

With the model being the first of the ID models to also be available in the United States, it’s no wonder that Volkswagen choose it as a flagbearer for the new GTX nameplate – if it will get to use it.

A few somewhat odd-looking Volkswagen ID.4 prototypes were spied recently during cold-weather testing in Northern Sweden, and judging by the mildly camouflaged LED lights in the front bumpers, these are no ordinary models.

This is purely speculative at this point, but we could be looking at the first batch of cars testing the GTX drivetrain, which has already been confirmed by Volkswagen.

Using a dual-motor setup, the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 GTX should be good for a total output of 302 horsepower (306 PS) and a 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) acceleration of a little over 6 seconds.

In other words, it will be similar in straight-line performance with the Golf GTI, but with all-wheel-drive and a purely electric drivetrain in a crossover body.

Expect a slightly lower range than the single-motor ID.4 Pro, but much higher performance thanks to the increased output, upgraded suspension, and brakes. Some slightly restyled bumpers and bigger wheels should also complete the package when the car goes on sale in the second half of 2021.

More and more carmakers embrace the concept of over-the-air (OTA) updates for their vehicles, and it’s easy to see why: they add extra convenience, making it possible for new software versions to be installed without paying a visit to the dealership.
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Volkswagen is the most recent big name to announce the adoption of OTA updates, this time for the ID.3 and ID.4 models sold in Europe.

The German automaker promises a new software update every three months, as it says the new system makes it possible to release improvements to supported cars in a more straightforward manner.

However, it's worth knowing that the new OTA updates require software version ID.2.1, which is pre-loaded on all new ID. models produced since calendar week 8 of 2021. In other words, if your vehicle runs an earlier software version, then you need to first go to a dealership, get this version, and only then is your car ready to receive OTA updates.

“The new ID.Software 2.1 is already on board as standard for vehicles produced from calendar week 8. For customers who have already received an ID. vehicle, the new software will now be made available successively. As announced, they will have to visit their dealer once for this purpose. With the new software, it will then be possible for the first time in the volume segment to update control units installed in the vehicle, among other things, without the customer having to go to the workshop,” Volkswagen explains in a press announcement (embedded below).

The German carmaker says it has conductive intensive testing to make sure everything is working as planned and the OTA updates don’t do more harm than good. The first updates have already been installed on over 3,000 company cars, so when customers start getting them, the experience should be as smooth as possible without any installation or post-installation problems whatsoever.

The Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV has been crowned the 2021 World Car of the Year. The award is conferred by a panel of 93 journalists representing 28 different countries. VW's first EV from its dedicated platform, the ID.4 was deemed the most significant new car of the year, beating out 24 other nominees. The other two top finalists were the Toyota Yaris and the Honda e.

Additionally, the WCOTY jurors honored the redesigned 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class as the World Luxury Car of the Year. The award for World Performance Car of the Year went to the new, 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo. The World Urban Car of the Year was the Honda e, the retro-inspired electric minicar. And the Land Rover Defender was recognized as the World Car Design of the Year.

This is the 17th year for the awards. Previous WCOTY winners include the Kia Telluride last year, the Jaguar I-Pace in 2019 and the Volvo XC60 in 2018.

Volkswagen unveiled the ID.4 GTX in a livestream video. The automaker says the GTX is its EV lineup’s “new sporty flagship,” sporting a twin-motor powertrain producing 295 hp and a 298-mile range.

VW sources told Autoweek that the US is also getting a dual-motor all-wheel-drive ID.4. Ours will be called simply ID.4 AWD. Sources told us to expect the AWD version “later this summer” packing about 301 hp and slightly stiffer suspension.

Volkswagen says the ID.4 GTX shows that “sustainability and sportiness are not mutually exclusive.”

“The letters GT have long stood for driving pleasure,” said Klaus Zellmer, board member for marketing and sales at Volkswagen, referring to GTI, GTD, and GTE badges for gasoline, diesel, and plug-in-hybrids. “Now the X is building the bridge to the mobility of the future. Sustainability and sportiness are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other intelligently.”


The GTX has its own rear bumper, anthracite roof bar and black roof and rear spoiler. MAGROUND GMBHThe ID.4 GTX has several of its own styling elements, setting it apart from the regular ID 4. For example the front LED lights are unique to the GTX while the rear LEDs create an X-shaped brake light. There are also GTX badges, high-gloss black air intakes, an anthracite roof bar, and a black roof and rear spoiler. The rear bumper is new and includes a GTX-unique diffuser.



The interior’s blue dash panels and red contrasting stitching are unique to the GTX. VWInside you find dark blue dash panels and leatherette door inserts, and red contrasting stitching, all unique to the GTX. VW sources told Autoweek that our two-motor ID.4 won’t have the sporty-ish bodywork tweaks.

The ID.4 GTX is the first model on VW’s modular electric drive platform (MEB) to feature dual-motor all-wheel drive. The GTX’s power comes from a 201-hp permanent magnet synchro machine (PSM) on the rear axle, and an asychronous motor (ASM) on the front. The two motors combine for 295 hp, and VW hasn’t confirmed the torque number. VW said in the livestream that the system allows the GTX to hit 62 mph in 6.2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 112 mph.

VW officials said the all-wheel-drive system is computer controlled. The default is rear-wheel drive and the additional motor switches on “intelligently within a few milliseconds when very high performance or strong traction are required. In the new Traction driving mode, it is even permanently activated.” The company said the system automatically adjusts torque to “balance efficiency, dynamic performance and stability.”

The battery is the regular ID.4’s 77-kWh lithium-ion unit. An optional Sports pack has quicker steering and lowers the ride height half an inch. The optional Sports Plus package adds DDC adaptive chassis control, managing the shocks to offer a firmer, sportier ride, like on VW’s R models.

VW said the GTX will offer “simply amazing handling, like a sports car.”

VW sources tell Autoweek that a range of GTX-badged performance ID models are coming. In fact the automaker showed the ID.5 coupe and confirmed it will get a GTX badge. VW sources tell us the US is not getting the ID.5. They also told us that VW’s R division is working on a range of higher-performance models.

The GTX goes on sale in Europe this summer starting at around $61,000.

Volkswagen’s ID.4 1st Edition RWD racer finished the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) Mexican 1000 off-road race in 61st place and VW officials told Autoweek the ID.4 had no mechanical issues after five grueling days in the Mexican desert. Rally and drifting ace Tanner Foust and co-driver Emme Hall got stuck in some sand on the first day and had to be dragged out, costing a bit of time. Otherwise there were no other issues.


Millen Racing raised the body about two inches. VWRhys Millen Racing prepared the crossover utility vehicle, taking a stock ID.4 with a stock powertrain and an 82-kWh battery pack, and modifying it with an off-road suspension and racing interior. The SUV’s electronics were given more protection from the elements, and the ID.4’s interior was stripped and modified with a roll cage, racing seats, and supplemental screens for data like battery temperature. Millen also reworked the suspension for off-roading, added skid plates. Millen told Autoweek he swapped the 19-inch wheels for 18s with 255/70 tires with more sidewall for cushioning and wheel travel. The body was also lifted about 2 inches from stock.

Since Millen won the race overall, it’s fair to say VW picked the right car builder to find out how well its production-based EV might handle some extreme off-road challenges.



The interior was stripped and modified with a roll cage, racing seats, and supplemental screens for data such as battery temperature. VW“With Rhys’ experience down here racing on the peninsula, he knew what the most important modifications the ID.4 would need,” Foust told Autoweek. “A lot of it was just reinforcing stock components.

“It’s the first time I’ve done a 1,000-mile race without a mechanical issue,” Foust told Autoweek. “In fact we never even changed the tires. More than 10 racers got stuck in the same place we did on the first day, so on the way back the organizers bypassed that area.

“The five day format is essentially like the historic Baja 1000 that people are familiar with, it’s just broken into stages over the five days,” Foust explained. “So it’s perfect for EV driving because you have designated transit times and overnight to accomplish the charge.”

Foust told us the ID.4 went about the same distance as the combustion race trucks but of course the charging takes longer.

He said there were no other EVs in the race but some have gone down to Baja to test. He also told us the fans, race organizers and other competitors loved seeing the ID.4 compete. “The support we got as was amazing. I think the competitors see it as a glimpse into the future of motorsport. And Volkswagen is deep in the heart of Baja with the Beetle legacy, so the race fans absolutely loved seeing ID.4. Even when we were last on the road they’d stick around and cheer us on.”



VW said it might do the Rebelle Rally in October. VWThat’s all well and good but the reality is not too many customers are going to go desert racing in their ID.4s, so what was the point of the exercise? Foust told us it’s about more than just the challenge and more than just being the first to do it. “Almost everywhere we race internal combustion cars today, we’ll be racing EVs in the future. And a lot of the objections you hear to electric cars – duration, dealing with heat -- are just wrong. We wanted to show that a car like this with fewer moving parts and fewer things to go wrong could actually be more reliable than a combustion engine car in the nastiest conditions there are.

Tanner Foust said until now he’d never done a 1,000 mile race with zero mechanical glitches. VW

“For people thinking about buying an EV, we put one in conditions 100 times harsher than anything they’ll ever drive in. If it can survive that it can certainly survive the street.

“We’re in the very early days of EVs racing an extreme race like this,” Foust told us. “We’re limited on charging solutions but as soon as next year and the year after, as mobile charging solutions get more capable, this will be a very accessible race for people that buy an EV and modify it.”

What’s next for a racing ID.4? VW officials told Autoweek the company is considering running the all-women Rebelle Rally scheduled for October 7-16.