Volkswagen Imagines New BEV Market with 'Sports Limousine'

Volkswagen has unveiled its latest BEV concept, the ID.X Performance described as a “sports limousine” with all wheel drive.

The concept, that the automaker says will not go into production, was created on the ID.7 platform and aims at the mid- to upper-premium market segment. Its powertrain features dual-motor drive with 411 kW (555bhp) and boost function. In the show car, Volkswagen has supplemented the permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle with an additional asynchronous motor on the front axle to create an all-wheel drive.

The automaker says the advantages of this drive type are a short-time overload capability and particularly low drag losses. As a result, this motor type is ideal for delivering short-term power in the form of a boost function. The drive torque is controlled by a Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which also manages operation of the rear axle differential lock in the ID.X Performance. The function is controlled on a separate display with 17-centimeter screen diagonal in the center console.

Andreas Reckewerth, head of technology office for Volkswagen’s BEV platform, the MEB, said: “The MEB offers many fantastic possibilities for approaching vehicle development with a great deal of creativity. It was clear to us that we wanted to base our new show car on the ID.7 and that we would focus on enhancing the performance. In this way we can show what is possible.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_  and Threads