335-HP Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX To Debut On March 21
Key Takeaways
- The new VW ID. Buzz GTX minivan will debut with 335 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and sporty exterior accents next week.
- Despite its weight, the performance minivan is expected to reach 60 mph in around six seconds, offering a fun driving experience.
- The ID. Buzz GTX is a unique electric minivan in a class of its own, blending practicality with performance and design upgrades.
Volkswagen is gearing up to introduce its latest GTX-badged electric vehicle based on an unlikely contender: the family-friendly ID. Buzz electric minivan. The automaker shared a new teaser via LinkedIn, confirming the hotted-up ID.Buzz will debut next week at the company’s Annual Press Conference on March 21. How do we know it’s the GTX? There’s not much to work with, but the vehicle in the teaser is sporting triangle-shaped daytime running lights, a calling card for the GTX range, and seen on the newly-revealed ID.7 GTX Tourer and the ID.3 GTX hot hatch.
We’ve already spotted the performance minivan out testing at the Nurburgring, where it put its 335-horsepower dual-electric motor drivetrain to good use. Given its size and heft, we don’t expect particularly blistering performance, but it will still be fun. Reports suggest the GTX should be able to haul itself to 60 mph in around six seconds, which is more than sufficient for a car of this ilk.
What We Know So Far
As mentioned, the ID. Buzz GTX will wade into battle with 335 horsepower and all-wheel drive. This is the same electric setup that does duty in the ID.7 GTX Tourer. We’re surprised Volkswagen didn’t give the minivan a bit more muscle to make up for its portly weight, but then again, this isn’t an all-out sports car. While the suspension is likely to err on the side of comfort, VW will undoubtedly have made it stiffer and more agile than the van on which it’s based. The ID.7 and ID.3 both got handling revisions with the GTX treatment, such as the optional DCC adaptive chassis control system and a progressive steering system. The ID. Buzz will likely benefit from similar upgrades.
While the camouflage makes it difficult to spot, the ID. Buzz will arrive with more aggressive bodywork and exterior accents. This will presumably include 20-inch Skagen wheels, honeycomb or diamond-pattern grille inserts, and a sporty rear diffuser of some kind. Like the ID.3 and ID.7 GTX models, the sprightly minivan should receive Kings Red Metallic as a paint option, a shade associated with VW performance cars. Similarly, the interior will receive more supportive seats with additional bolstering, trimmed in a selection of eco-friendly and sporty-looking materials.
In A Class Of Its Own
The ID. Buzz GTX is a most unusual vehicle and will debut as a class of one. There aren’t many electric minivans on the market yet, and even fewer that prioritize performance. We don’t see this segment taking off, but we applaud Volkswagen for attempting to inject some excitement into what can be seen as a mundane mode of transport.
It’s worth noting that the US-spec ID.Buzz will be different from the one offered in other markets, with Volkswagen opting to sell a long-wheelbase version in America. With around 330 hp available in the top trim, it’s unlikely that VW will offer the GTX variant stateside, despite our penchant for high-performance family vehicles. That’s a shame, but at least we have the choice to opt for a 300 hp+ electric minivan in the first place.
