Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer: price, specs and release date

Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer power, performance and chassis

Scholars of the Volkswagen Golf R estate will find the new wave electric ID.7 GTX Tourer has a surprising amount in common with its petrol-powered brethren.

For a kickoff, it’s four-wheel-drive with an electric motor at each end and, like the Golf, it's an on-demand system. The GTX is rear-wheel-drive until the extra grip is needed when it spins up the 109PS (80kW) electric motor that drives the front wheels. It's the reverse of the Golf in this respect. XDS+ electronic differentials should mean the GTX can metre out power drama-free, and various driving modes change the car's character.

In total, the GTX has 56PS (41kW) more than the next most potent ID.7 Tourer, and thanks to four-wheel-drive, its towing capacity increases from 1,000 to 1,400kg.

Oddly, a 112mph top speed is the only performance stat VW quotes, which is underwhelming but expected for an electric car that needs a sensible range. Based on the mechanically identical ID.4 GTX, you can expect the ID.7 to accelerate from 0-62mph in sub-5.5 seconds. Instead of actual figures, the company prefers to talk about 'GTX Punch' VW-speak for instant EV thrust. Whatever you call it, the GTX should feel faster than our estimated on-paper figures suggest.

Volkswagen also upgrades the GTX running gear. It gets progressive steering, which makes the car more manoeuvrable at slow speeds and nimbler at high speeds, mounted on stiffer stabilisers designed to deal with torque generated by the front motor. DCC adjustable dampers are optional and should make the GTX feel suitably pinned in their stiffest setting.

Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer range and charging

Along with more power, the GTX gets an 86kWh battery – VW's largest yet – up from the 77kWh battery in the standard ID.7. Range is another omission from this early press release, but expect more than 300 miles from a charge on a good day, and rather a lot less on a bad day. The GTX has battery pre-warm and a sat-nav system that can plan big journeys based on the fastest chargers available on the route. A 200kW maximum charging speed means a 10-80 per cent charge takes as little as 30 minutes.

Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer exterior styling

If you loved the old R36 Passat for its Q-car-like subtleness, then the ID.7 GTX Tourer, which only lightly massages the looks of the standard model, should be right up your street.

VW has changed more than is initially obvious. You get a GTX-specific bumper with a honeycomb air intake and arrowhead daytime running lights where you would have once found fog lights. According to VW, the bumper limits drag while maintaining "high front axle downforce."

Around the sides, the changes are limited to model-specific, aero-themed 20-inch alloy wheels, which are smart rather than earth-shatteringly eye-catching. You can have them with black highlights, totally black, or chuck them in favour of a set of optional 21s.

Meanwhile, the honeycomb found on the front bumper spreads to the rear. You get GTX 3D LED tail lights, 'GTX' badging where you used to see 'ID.7', a smattering of glossy black plastics and, the cherry on top, a glistening VW badge backlit in red.

The biggest visual upgrade over the regular ID.7 is the Kings Red metallic paint, which has a candy-apple gloss. This is a tribute to the Tornado Red offered with the MK1 GTI. All GTXs also get a glossy black roof and wing mirrors.

Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer interior, infotainment and standard equipment

The Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer's interior is even more subtle than the exterior. As such, you get lashings of red trim, and that's about it. Sadly, heavily bolstered seats and a sports steering wheel are off the menu.

The seats you do get have a unique panel pattern, 'GTX' lettering, bolsters made from artVelours Eco microfleece and red piping. But honestly, they look disappointing.

The only option is to add more comfort rather than specifically more support. The optional ergoActive seats have 12-way electrical adjustment, are heated and cooled, and have a massage function. They come as part of the Plus Package, which includes a 700W Harman Kardon sound system and rear-seat heating.

In the German market (which mirrors the high-spec demands of the UK), the GTX gets matrix-led headlights, dynamic tail lights, privacy glass and ambient lighting with 30 rather than ten colour combinations, on top of the kit you get in a regular ID.7.

The GTX also gets the latest infotainment with an augmented head-up display and ChatGPT voice assistant. It also has a long list of assist systems that allow the car to drive (on the motorway with your hands on the wheel) and park itself.

Finally, there's the Smart Glass roof that turns opaque at the press of a button (or indeed with a voice command) using electric-volt and polymer technology that, in all honesty, we don't understand.

Despite its four-wheel drive, the GTX is as practical as the standard ID.7 Tourer, which means you get a 605-litre boot that grows the 1,714 litres when you flip the back seats down.

Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer price and release date

You can expect to read a full review of the new Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer in the coming months, with the car going on sale imminently. It will likely cost more than £60,000.