Wolfsburg's rugged ID.4 is Xtreme and gets a 65-hp boost in power. But is it ready for Moab?
VW- VW reveals ID. Xtreme concept in Locarno, Switzerland, at the ID Treffen event for EV enthusiasts.
- Based on the ID.4 GTX, the concept features a taller ride height, wider wheelarches, an aluminum plate to protect the battery, and increased power output.
- The concept imagines a slightly more off-road friendly ID.4, which could see demand from buyers as the ID.4 range expands in the coming years.
The Volkswagen ID.4 has been on sale long enough to receive a slice of the rapidly growing electric crossover pie. But few would probably feel comfortable hitting the trails in one.
This week Wolfsburg sought to broaden EV owners’ horizons by taking the wraps off the ID. Xtreme concept in Locarno, Switzerland, home of some very scenic trails.
Engineered by a team led by Andreas Reckewerth, head of overall vehicle MEB in the automaker’s development division, the concept is based on the GTX flavor of the ID.4. The concept benefits from a 65-hp boost in power, now up to 382 hp courtesy of a reworked rear motor and some software tweaks, as well as 1.9-inch wider 3D-printed wings housing 18-inch off-road wheels. An additional front bumper and rally lights round out the list of exterior changes.
So it’s Xtreme, but not too Xtreme.
“The modular electric drive matrix (MEB) has enormous technical potential,” said Silke Bagschik, head of the MEB product line. “For many of our customers, vehicles are much more than just a means of transport. With the ID. Xtreme, we are raising electric mobility from VW to a new performance level.”
The ID. Xtreme displays greater off-road ability, though perhaps stops short of rock climbing in Moab.
VW
On the inside, VW has added sportier seats trimmed in Alcantara microsuede, along with contrasting orange accents, while also giving it a unique exterior sound generator to set it apart from regular ID.4 models.
The underbody, meanwhile, has been completely closed off with aluminum panels to protect the battery.
VW is mum on the production chances of this particular concept, but we could picture it wearing the Alltrack badge if something like it were to be offered to more adventure-oriented buyers in the coming years.
Rivian has already done some work carving out a niche for off-road EVs, and other automakers like VW want to do the same. An off-road friendly VW, perhaps with a Baja name, is something we’re sure VW fans would like to see stateside as an ID.4 variant. With ID.4 production now under way in Chattanooga, Tennessee, VW is freer to create market-specific models.
“The ID. Xtreme is made by enthusiasts at Volkswagen for ID. enthusiasts here in Locarno. We are really eager to find out how the fans of electromobility react to the vehicle. Based on the feedback from our community, we will decide how to proceed with the project,” added Bagschik.
Jay Ramey Jay Ramey grew up around very strange European cars, and instead of seeking out something reliable and comfortable for his own personal use he has been drawn to the more adventurous side of the dependability spectrum.
Keyword: VW ID. Xtreme Concept Imagines an Off-Road ID.4