√Electric Volkswagen ID.4, ID.5 GTX sports SUVs, ID.3 GTX hot hatch here next year

High-performance ‘GTX’ versions of Volkswagen’s first three electric vehicles in Australia are due in local showrooms alongside regular versions next year.

Faster GTX versions of the 2024 Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 electric vehicles have been confirmed for Australian showrooms next year.

The GTX badge is reserved for performance versions of Volkswagen’s electric vehicles, with similar performance to today’s petrol-powered GTI range – and one step below the flagship R brand.

First due to arrive: GTX variants of the ID.4 mid-size electric SUV and its ‘coupe-styled’ ID.5 sibling – VW’s first electric vehicles in Australia. They’re expected in the first half of next year, about the same time as the standard models.

In Europe the ID.4 and ID.5 GTX are powered by dual electric motors (with a combined output of 220kW) and 77kWh battery capacity. The claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time: 6.2 seconds.

That pace is line-ball with the most potent version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hot hatch – but a second slower than an all-wheel-drive Volkswagen Tiguan R performance SUV.

Due to follow the SUVs into showrooms by the end of 2024 is the ID.3 electric hatch – the twin to the Cupra Born electric car just launched in Australia – in standard and GTX forms.

Details of the ID.3 GTX are yet to be revealed, however Drive understands it will be rear-wheel drive – not all-wheel drive – and is due to be unveiled in Europe before the end of this year.

“The performance range will be expanded in 12 months from today with ID.4 GTX electric [SUV], as well as the ID.5 GTX, followed a couple of months later by ID.3 GTX, building a constellation of eight [Volkswagen] performance cars [including petrol models],” VW Australia passenger-cars director Michal Szeniecki told a media briefing this week.

A GTX version of the ID. Buzz – the revival of the iconic 1960s VW Kombi – is also planned for overseas showroom next year with all-wheel drive and a 250kW power output.

It is on the wish-list for Australia – based on the long-wheelbase, seven-seat model unveiled last month – however is yet to be locked in for the local ID. Buzz range, due at the end of next year.

The ID.7 sedan – underpinned by the same electric-car platform as the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID. Buzz – will also spawn a 250kW GTX model, though the base vehicle is yet to be confirmed for Australian sale.

Volkswagen says it is aiming for 25 per cent of its sales next year to be GTI and R performance models, up from 10 per cent last year.

The German car maker says it has plans to initially secure enough production for 5000 annual electric-car sales in Australia annually, before ramping up to see electric vehicles outsell petrol and diesel-powered models by 2028.

Prices for the new Volkswagen ID electric cars – which, alongside the GTX performance models, will initially focus on high-specification, top-of-the-range models – will be confirmed closer to launch.

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