Volkswagen took the IAA Munich show by storm earlier this month with the unveiling of its ID. Life electric hatchback, previewing an entry-level EV due to go on sale in 2025 possibly by the ID.1 name. Even though the road-going model is still four years away, the peeps from Wolfsburg are apparently already thinking about giving the cutesy zero-emissions hatch a performance version.
In an interview with Auto Express magazine, VW’s sales and marketing boss Klaus Zellmer said the goal – in the long run – is to come out with a GTX derivative for every ID-badged electric car. Such a model would follow the already unveiled ID.4 GTX and the forthcoming ID.5 GTX compact electric SUVs, both of which have all-wheel drive and just under 300 horsepower. In the near future, possibly as early as 2022, the ID.3 GTX will be added to the lineup as a production version of the ID.X concept.
Bear in mind that while all the larger ID models mentioned above ride on the rear-wheel-drive-based MEB version, the ID. Life sits on a shorter configuration of the platform and features a FWD setup. The concept from IAA had a sole e-motor good for 231 horsepower (172 kilowatts) and 214 pound-feet (290 Newton-meters).
The electric punch enabled the Munich showcar to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 6.9 seconds and max out at 112 mph (180 km/h). The production version, at least in the GTX spicy flavor, should be able to deliver these numbers, especially since the electric hot hatch is likely not due until 2026 at the earliest.
A lot could change between now and 2025, let alone 2026, but VW seems to be determined to add some spice to its growing ID lineup of dedicated electric vehicles. The Cupra brand will certainly have its own sporty versions as already seen with the Born, a more athletic derivative of the VW ID.3.
Source: Auto Express
