VW’s retro-inspired ID. Buzz will be getting a GTX performance variant as well as long wheelbase and all-wheel-drive versions.
Volkswagen has teased a sportier GTX version of its ID Buzz, revealing a picture of the GTX logo on its steering wheel at a presentation in Hanover, Germany. Longer wheelbase and further all-wheel-drive versions will also arrive in the future bringing seven seats to the electric minibus.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz GTX will join the ID 4 GTX and ID 5 GTX, which are already on sale, as well as the forthcoming ID.3 GTX due in 2023. These cars are based on the same platform as the ID. Buzz, and should feature the same 77kWh battery and motor combination.
Power goes to the rear wheels in the standard ID. Buzz, but like in the performance variants of the ID.4 and ID.5, the ID. Buzz GTX will use an all-wheel-drive system. Expect the 0-100km/h time to be much quicker than the standard ID. Buzz’s 10.2 seconds, and its 145km/h top speed to be faster as well.
While performance figures have yet to be confirmed by Volkswagen itself, the added front-axle electric motor is likely to mean the standard Buzz’s official range of 415km will be negatively affected. The GTX’s charging speeds should match that of the normal Buzz, however, with a top-up from five to 80 percent taking around 30 minutes thanks to 170kW rapid charging.
It’s likely the GTX will get all the equipment that was offered on the ID. Buzz 1st Edition, including 21-inch wheels and a 12-inch touchscreen. We can expect to see the GTX model arrive in 2023.
Also shown in the presentation alongside the GTX teaser were some slides revealing a longer wheelbase variant with seven seats. No further information has been revealed, but we expect these models to arrive at around the same time.
Like the rest of the models in the VW’s electric car line-up, the ID Buzz is based on the MEB platform that also underpins the Audi Q4 e-tron, Cupra Born and Skoda Enyaq iV.
The forthcoming ID. Buzz GTX and all-wheel-drive variants are likely to only be available with the largest 77kWh battery pack, but the added weight will probably have a negative impact on range – possibly by as much as 20 per cent. The exact specs will be revealed later.
Rapid charging is supported at speeds up to 170kW, which should allow customers to top up the 77kWh battery from 5-80 per cent capacity in close to 30 minutes from a fast enough public charger. Fully recharging the battery from a standard 7.4kW home wallbox is likely to take over 12 hours.
The ID. Buzz measures 4712mm end to end, with a wheelbase of just under three metres and a completely flat floor that maximises interior space in both the people-carrier and commercial models. In the ID. Buzz, you get 1121 litres of boot space with the second row of seats in place, or 2205 litres when you fold them down. For reference, the only other cars capable of similar figures are seven-seat SUVs like the Kia Sorento and Land Rover Discovery, or van-derived MPVs such as the Peugeot e-Rifter.
Like the Peugeot and its Citroen and Vauxhall sister models, the ID. Buzz gets two sliding doors as standard, meaning access to the rear seats should be easy. This will be particularly handy if you need to fit a child seat regularly. A relatively short turning circle of 11.1 metres will help manoeuvrability in towns and car parks.
Extended wheelbase and seven-seat models will be available soon, as well as a range-topping ID. Buzz GTX variant. Prices and specs for these will be revealed in time, before they go on sale in 2023.
Volkswagen has also previously confirmed it’ll produce a ‘California’ camper-van version of the ID Buzz “in the second half of the decade” – so it’ll be 2025 at the earliest before that hits the road.
Automotive Daily