Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX spied at the Nürburgring

Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX spied at the Nürburgring and the spicy new Buzz GTX will hit showrooms later in 2024. Volkswagen can’t get enough of its new, performance focused GTX branding. The firm is slapping the badge onto the rear of every electric vehicle in its arsenal – and the ID. Buzz is the next in line. The hot electric van will make its debut in 2024, sporting a 335bhp dual-motor powertrain and more sporty styling tweaks than you can shake a roll of Alcantara at.

These spy shots are our first uncamouflaged look at the new Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX – and it looks like VW will follow the blueprint laid out by the ID.4 GTX. Like the SUV, the van gets a more aggressive bumper at the front, larger alloy wheels and (judging by their red stitching and slightly lower driving position) a pair of sports seats inside. We’re also expecting a racier steering wheel and some GTX-specific graphics for the van’s infotainment system.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX mule is also riding slightly closer to ground than the standard model, suggesting Volkswagen has fitted it with sportier suspension. Rather worryingly though, considering the vast increase in power, the firm hasn’t done much to its brakes. Look at its back axle – there are still drums hiding behind the alloys! However, we expect the extra electric motor will provide additional braking force by offering increased regen.

Volkswagen’s changes might be extensive – but they won’t turn the Buzz into a track-munching racer. Pay attention to the passenger in the image above. He’s almost falling into the driver’s lap through the corner, which suggests his seat doesn’t have anywhere near enough bolstering. And although Volkswagen’s suspension changes seem to have improved body roll compared to the standard van, the GTX still gets its knee down in the corners. Obviously. It’s a 2.5-tonne van.

What do you know about the GTX’s powertrain?

Well, it’s a more potent version of the dual-motor powertrain used in the ID.4 and ID.5 GTXs. Those cars produce 295bhp, while the ID. Buzz GTX serves up 335bhp. That’s partly to help compensate for the extra weight – the Buzz is a good 300kg heavier than the SUVs – and we suspect partly because we (along with every other motoring publication) complained the 4 and 5 weren’t quick enough.

Volkswagen says the powertrain can shunt the ID. Buzz from 0–62mph in 6.4 seconds which, to put that figure into context, is the same as a manual-equipped Volkswagen Golf GTI. It’s still unconfirmed whether Volkswagen will offer its sporty GTX trim on the five-seat short wheelbase version of the ID. Buzz but, if it does, it stands to be even quicker. The smaller van is slightly lighter which might allow its 0–62mph time to dip into the five-second range.

If Volkswagen follows the ID.4 GTX’s blueprint to the letter, the Buzz’s electric motors will be fed by a 77kWh battery pack. However, we expect the extra grunt from the added motor will carve a huge chunk out of the van’s maximum range. The single motor 201bhp ID. Buzz has an official range of 258 miles, but that could be as low as 200 miles if the same battery is used in the GTX.

Volkswagen’s engineers have already anticipated that, though. The firm recently revealed its plans to introduce a larger 85kWh battery pack on the van to increase its maximum range. The company will also launch a sprightlier single motor powertrain with 282bhp on lowlier versions of the van.

How much will the Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX cost?

Volkswagen hasn’t yet confirmed prices for its sporty electric van, but we can’t see it being cheap. The most affordable version of the standard ID. Buzz will set you back £58,915, while the more generously equipped ID. Buzz Style costs a whopping £63,715.

The difference between the cheapest Volkswagen ID.4 Life and the range-topping Volkswagen ID.4 GTX is around £14,000. If Volkswagen targets the same price increase between the most basic and most expensive version of the ID. Buzz, the GTX’s starting price could knock on the door of £80,000.