Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric van gets Golf GTI-style performance boost

A GTX version of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz will inject extra performance into the born-again battery-electric Kombi next year.

As previously reported by Drive, the ID.Buzz is set for Australian sales in 2024, and now Autocar in the UK has details of a GTI-style performance boost.

It reported a GTX version of the ID. Buzz with more power and all-wheel drive, with confirmation from the head of R&D at Volkswagen, Kai Gruenitz.

“The GTX will be a cool high-performance version, with 250kW, a dedicated interior, new exterior colours and some additional features,” Mr Gruenitz told Autocar.

News of the ID. Buzz GTX has already triggered a response from Volkswagen Australia.

“We're keen for it,” the spokesman for Volkswagen Australia, Paul Pottinger, told Drive.

“We're keen for any and all ID. Buzz variants, not least this one. And we will be looking into the possibilities.”

Despite the confirmed 2024 local timing for the ID. Buzz, Volkswagen Australia has admitted it is pushing for the earliest possible arrivals and the maximum number of models across the ID range of electric vehicles.

Australia currently trails the European roll-out of the ID range by four years, although Volkswagen Australia has an aggressive roll-out plan – reported by Drive – for 2024.

In addition to the power upgrade compared to the 150kW and 300Nm outputs of the standard ID. Buzz, the GTX will use the dual-motor, all-wheel drive system shared with other members of the ID electric family.

Autocar reports Volkswagen is also considering launching a non-GTX model of the ID. Buzz, still with all-wheel drive.

Mr Gruenitz also provided Autocar with more detail on the upcoming long-wheelbase version of the ID Buzz, which gets an extra 25 centimetres between the wheels and a seven-seat cabin.

“It will have three rows and seven seats, and you can pull them all out of the back. It will also have captain chairs that turn around,” he said.

He also talked about work on a 'California' campervan version of the ID. Buzz.

 “There will be a camper version. The first concept is being worked on now. It’s interesting what’s possible and what would be cool and usable,” Mr Gruenitz said.