Volkswagen is giving us a peep behind the curtain at the upcoming ID.7 GTX high-performance electric fastback (and Tourer estate) and it’s a car that introduces some interesting new tech to the ID. lineup.
80kW front motor
First off, the powertrain. The ID.7 GTX keeps the new ‘AP550’ rear-mounted electric motor - rated at 210kW - from the regular ID.7 but has another 80kW motor (called AKA150) on the front axle, giving the ID.7 GTX 4Motion four-wheel drive, and up to 340hp.
Interestingly, the motors use different tech. The rear motor is a synchronous permanent magnet unit, but the one in the front is asynchronous, which means that when it’s in standby mode, it consumes almost no energy at all, giving the ID.7 GTX lower energy consumption.
Annoyingly, Volkswagen is still being coy about the GTX’s range on one charge. It does get a larger battery than the standard ID.7, raising the energy capacity from 77kWh to 86kWh, but obviously with the extra weight of the front motor, it may not match the non-GTX ID.7’s official 700km range with that bigger battery. We do know that the ID.7 GTX will be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than six seconds.
More towing capacity
We also know that the extra power and torque of the front motor has raised the towing capacity, so the GTX model can haul up to 1,400kg of braked trailer weight.
As well as claiming that the ID.7 GTX is ‘extremely efficient’, Volkswagen also says that it has been able to leverage the infinitely-adjustable power and torque outputs of the two electric motors to benefit the car’s handling, and “has developed a setup that converts the maximum system output and highest torque of the drive into propulsion within milliseconds at the start of an acceleration phase. In the world of combustion engines, only high-performance sports cars, if at all, can offer such immediate power delivery.” Power supply to each wheel is controlled by an upgraded ‘XDS+’ electronic differential system.
Faster charging
The new big battery can also be charged more quickly than the existing ID.7’s pack - at speeds of up to 200kW from a suitable DC charging station. That battery is also thermally managed so that it can always be charged at peak performance when you need to, and Volkswagen says that the battery conditioning system can wipe minutes off your charging time, especially in the winter. There are programmable routes in the ID.7 GTX’s navigation which can be swapped between the car and your phone, and which can allow for as many as ten charging stops per journey, automatically calculating the best places to recharge.
The ID.7 GTX also has tweaked suspension and steering, with a “sporty, progressive steering system” (‘progressive steering’ is Volkswagen-speak for a variable-ratio steering rack) and a new computer management system for the DCC adjustable suspension dampers which are aimed at providing the GTX’s driver with “a sporty and precise driving experience at premium class level.”
The ID.7 GTX will be available in five colours, with the headline paint being the Kings Red you see in these photos. The other choices are Glacier white metallic, Scale silver metallic, Grenadilla black metallic and Moonstone grey solid.
Light-up badges
At the front, the ID.7 GTX gets a new aero-enhancing bumper, some arrowhead LED running lights (which will become a signature for the entire GTX lineup) and - for the first time - an illuminated VW badge.
At the rear, there are lots of gloss black details, including a full-width honeycomb effect in the rear bumper and beneath that, a large diffuser. There’s also an illuminated red VW badge, and the patterns in the rear LED brake lights are customisable.
As standard the ID.7 GTX will come with diamond-cut ‘Skagen’ 20-inch alloy wheels, but there will be a set of optional 21-inch rims too. The regular ID.7’s optional electrochromatic roof will be standard for the GTX, meaning you can switch it from fully clear to opaque at the touch of a button.
Massaging sports seats
Inside, there will be sports seats (finished in a combo of leatherette and ArtVelours Eco microfleece) along with plenty of red piping and GTX logos. There will be an optional set of upgraded ‘ErgoActive’ massaging seats too, which also come with both heating and ventilation, and which have a special mode for drying your trousers if you’ve been caught out in a shower.
On the tech front, the ID.7 GTX will come with an automated parking system whose memory function can control the car for up to 50 metres (as well as having a remote-control parking function meaning you can nudge the car forward and back from your mobile phone). There’s also the expected lane-keeping assist, active cruise control and an alarm that stops you opening your door if there’s a cyclist in your blind spot. The big touchscreen in the centre of the dash will now come with ChatGPT artificial intelligence, which will allow you to chat to your car.
There’s also a new Wellness App, which can adjust the climate control, seats, sound system, lighting and roof to either pep you up or calm you down, depending on what you need. The system - which is making its debut in the ID.7 range with the GTX model - will have three choices: Fresh Up, Calm Down and Power Break.
Irish prices for the new ID.7 GTX have yet to be announced, but it is expected to go on sale in time for the “251” registration period at the start of 2025.