It’s no secret that VW is busy testing its ID.4 electric crossover in South Africa, but it has thus far been coy about exactly which models it has brought over for these trials.
After spotting a lone ID.4 with a massive antenna on its roof roaming around on Gauteng roads, TopAuto can confirm that at least one of the test units is the GTX model, the sportiest interpretation of the crossover there is.
With South Africa being a big market for VW’s GTI and R-badged hot hatches, as well as crossovers and SUVs, it’s perhaps no surprise that it is evaluating the GTX on local soil.
VW’s local subsidiary opted to cancel the South African launch of the ID.3 hatchback a few years ago in favour of the ID.4 as it is more suited for our market “in terms of space and size,” the company confirmed to TopAuto.
Furthermore, the automaker is set to discontinue the Golf GTI platform at the end of the current generation as it moves forward into an all-electric future.
In light of these decisions, it appears that the ID.4 GTX is the next best thing in VW’s global portfolio that will be able to satisfy its high-performance-seeking South African clientele.
Unfortunately, we could not grab photos of this GTX’s front end.
After seeing the electric crossover on the freeway we immediately gave pursuit, but the driver seemed to be acutely aware of us snapping pictures behind him in a far less powerful car.
As soon as traffic cleared he put foot, and the angry ID.4 was out of sight within seconds.
What could be heading to South African roads
The ID.4 has been on sale in European markets for a good few years by now so we are already cognisant of what it can do.
Featuring a 77kWh battery pack that powers two electric motors with a combined output of 250kW, the 2.7-tonne hot crossover rockets to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds – a full second faster than the Golf 8 GTI – and reaches a top speed of 180km/h.
Despite its impressive performance chops, the dynamic ID.4 still boasts a generous maximum driving range of 660km in an urban setting and 515km if freeway driving is thrown into the mix.
Using a 175kW DC cable, it can be charged up from 10-80% in as little as 28 minutes, and a 0-100% charge with an 11kW AC home plug is achieved in approximately eight hours.
At 4,582mm long, 1,852mm wide, and 1,632mm tall – the GTX is 73mm longer, 13mm wider, and 52mm lower than the mid-size Tiguan, lending it a wholly distinct profile in the metal.
In Germany, this particular version of the electric VW retails for €55,555 before any government incentives, equating to R1.13 million at current exchange rates.
Given South Africa’s prohibitively high import taxes on battery-powered cars, it’s likely the ID.4 GTX will be priced considerably north of this figure should it reach domestic showrooms.
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