The new Volkswagen ID.Buzz GTX infuses the retro MPV with a performance edge

Just when you thought the car world couldn’t get any crazier, Volkswagen has unleashed the new ID.Buzz GTX, adding more power and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system to the pinnacle of the brand's electric MPV range. The new GTX is expected to be priced well beyond the £63,835 for the current top-of-the-range “Style” model and should land with customers at the back end of 2024.

The battery capacity will vary between the available long and short-wheelbase versions of the ID.Buzz GTX. The short-wheelbase (SWB) car boasts a new 79kWh (usable) battery pack, delivering a potent 335bhp to the two-motor setup. It’s the same arrangement you’ll find in the recently launched ID.7 GTX and ID.3 GTX models.

The long-wheelbase (LWB) model will maintain the same motors and power output but gets an expanded 86kWh (usable) battery for a maximum charging speed of 200kWh. That’s compared to 185kW in the SWB model. Both powertrains have the same quoted time for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge - approximately 25 minutes. 

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Volkswagen has gone for a rear-biased configuration for the ID.Buzz GTX powertrain. The rear is fitted with a hefty 282bhp motor that will carry the majority of the workload but is supplemented by a 107bhp motor on the front. Although the combination produces more than the official 335bhp in total, Volkswagen is constrained to the 335bhp maximum output by the capabilities of the battery components.

Both the SWB and LWB models exhibit the same impressive quoted performance, accelerating from 0 to 62mph in just 6.5 seconds. This represents a significant improvement over the standard 200bhp ID.Buzz model of 3.8 seconds.

The addition of the extra motor over the standard single-motor ID Buzz models will have camping enthusiasts rejoicing as it brings a bump in the quoted braked trailer towing capacity to 1,800kg. That’s for the SWB model, the towing capacity decreases to 1,600kg in the LWB but the longer version makes up for this by adding the convenience of third row seating and the option of a massive glass electrochromic roof. 

The VW ID.Buzz GTX lineup has undergone some enhancements in the looks department, too. While maintaining the core retro styling of the ID.Buzz, the GTX features a revamped front foglight and bumper setup, along with a striking Candy Red paint finish option. You do also have the option of larger 21-inch alloy wheels if the 19-inch standard wheels aren't to your fancy.

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Inside the GTX, a quirky black and red colour scheme dominates in place of the lighter shades of the single motor cars. The GTX features lots of black fabric and red piping on the seats and doors as well as some sportier seats.

The ID.Buzz GTX has also been fitted with a few technological advancements, these include an updated 12.9-inch infotainment system equipped with VW's latest user interface and illuminated controls for temperature and volume adjustment.

While there is no given on-sale date at this stage, VW states that pre-sales for the ID.Buzz GTX are set to kick off soon, with dealership availability anticipated later this year. While pricing details remain undisclosed, the introduction of these new variants suggests a potential price tag exceeding the £70,000 mark. We also await the UK arrival of the ID.Buzz LWB in any form so these models may arrive after the SWB cars.