Volkswagen teases more powerful and sporty ID.7 GTX trim
Volkswagen is teasing its newest flagship electric sedan variant, the ID.7 GTX. The new VW ID.7 GTX will include new sporty design features, more power, and a dual-motor AWD system.
We got our first look at the all-new Volkswagen ID.7 at CES in January, with the automaker presenting a specially camouflaged ID.7 prototype.
Volkswagen says the ID.7, its sixth and largest fully electric vehicle, packs significantly more power and efficiency than any other MEB-based model on the market so far.
To introduce its flagship electric sedan to the world, VW held a world premiere last month to simultaneously launch the ID.7 in key markets such as North America, Europe, and China.
According to initial forecasts, the ID.7 will have up to 435 miles (700 km) WLTP range (in the Pro trim). VW credits its newly developed electric powertrain (APP550) that enhances efficiency and the ID.7s low drag coefficient of around 0.23 for the vehicle’s long-range capabilities.
The ID.7 was initially launched in two versions, the Pro and Pro S. The Pro comes equipped with a 77 kWh battery and up to 170 kW DC fast charging capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Pro S, launching later this year in Europe, will include an 86 kWh battery and up to 200 kW DC fast charging capabilities.
Now we are learning Volkswagen is working on another trim, the ID.7 GTX.
Volkswagen previews new ID.7 GTX trim
Volkswagen revealed the new ID.7 GTX on Thursday, saying it will be the third model, behind the ID.4 and ID.5, to receive a GTX version.
GTX, according to VW, stands for electric mobility and intelligent sportiness. Volkswagen claims the new ID.7 GTX will be the “most dynamic model variant” with a dual-motor AWD system and several new design features.
Volkswagen says it has enhanced the ID.7s running gear and steering for maximum comfort and performance.
According to Autocar, the new performance model is expected to pair the ID.7 base models’ 282 bhp and 404 lb-ft rear motor with the ID.4 GTXs 107 bhp front motor for a combined output of 390 bhp.
Although this will substantially improve the ID.7s 0 to 62 mph (which is around six seconds), it will likely slightly reduce the model’s max range to about 400 miles.
The interior will feature red stitching on the seats, dash panels, and doors for a more sporty and performance appearance.
With the new features and design, the ID.7 GTX is expected to be priced at a premium compared to the base model’s expected price of around $55,000 to $60,000.
The new high-performance model is expected to launch this September at the IAA Mobility trade show in Munich. Meanwhile, the base ID.7 is scheduled to launch in Europe and China this fall, followed by North America in 2024.
Electrek’s Take
With Tesla and other EV makers like BYD stealing Volkswagen’s market share in China and abroad, the German automaker needs an answer.
Although the new ID.7 electric sedan and GTX trim will not solve all of VW’s woes, the models represent where VW wants to head in the future.
Volkswagen, like many automakers are realizing that efficiency is key. Not only that, but consumers are going beyond just performance as they look for the latest tech and software features.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley stressed this on the company’s Q1 earnings call, using his visit to China as an example, saying:
It’s interesting to see how customers are no longer just attracted to traditional luxury brands with EVs or even hardware design anymore.
Farley continued to say, “The best new brands are offering integrated digital, retail, lifestyle, and experience that are software-defined.”
Volkswagen’s overall sales fell 3.6% in China last year as customers gravitated toward newer, more functional electric models. The ID.7 features a new operating and display, which VW says is more “customer focused” and “opens up a new segment for the ID family.” We’ll see if the new model can help VW get back on track.
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Executives from TravelCenters America (TA) and BP were joined by local elected officials at a ribbon cutting for the two companies’ first DC fast charging hub on I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida – the first of several such EV charging stations to come online.
Frequent road-trippers are no doubt familiar with TA’s red, white, and blue logo and probably think of the sites as safe, convenient stops in otherwise unfamiliar surroundings. The company hopes those positive associations will carry over as its customers continue to switch from gas to electric at a record pace in 2025 and beyond.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring new forms of energy to our customers as we support their changing mobility needs, while leveraging the best of bp and TA,” explains Debi Boffa, CEO of TravelCenters of America. Boffa, however, was quick to – but TA is quick to point out that TA isn’ no’t leaving its ICE customers behind. “While this is significant, to our loyal customers and guests, rest assured TA will continue to provide the same safe and reliable fueling options it has offered for over 50 years, regardless of the type of fuel.”
The charging hub along the I-95 offers 12 DC fast charging ports offering up to 400kW of power for lickety-quick charging. While they’re at the TA, EV drivers can visit restrooms, shop at TA’s convenience store, or eat at fast food chains like Popeyes and Subway. Other TA centers offer wifi and pet-friendly amenities as well – making them ideal partners for BP as the two companies builds out their charging networks.
“As we expand our EV charging network in the US, I am thrilled to unveil our first of many hubs at TA locations,” offers Sujay Sharma, CEO of BP Pulse Americas. “These sites are strategically located across key highway corridors that provide our customers with en route charging when and where they need it most, while offering convenient amenities, like restaurants and restrooms.”
Electrek’s Take
As I type this, BP has more than 37,000 EV charging ports operational globally, and plans to have more than 100,000 in service by 2030. The company made headlines in 2022 when it announced that its EV chargers were “on the cusp” of being more profitable than its gas pumps. Three years on, it seems like that’s a done deal.
As ever, money talks.
SOURCE | IMAGES: BP.
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The new e2500-THL and TS electric Ultra Buggies from Toro offer construction and demo crews a carrying capacity of 2500 lbs. (on the TS model), six-and-a-half foot dump height (on the THL), nearly 13 cubic ft. of capacity, and hours of quiet, fume-free operation.
Despite the second Trump administration’s loosening grip on emissions regulations, the fact remains that a growing number of municipalities in both red and blue regions of the US are continuing to clamp down on noise regulations, which means that construction crews with quiet running electric equipment will be able to get jobs that crews stubbornly holding on to diesel and gas won’t. Toro absolutely gets it, which is why its e2500-THL and TS Ultra Buggy line will be welcomed by smart crews with open arms.
For their open-mindedness, those crews will be rewarded with machines powered by 7 kWh’s worth of Toro HyperCell lithium-ion battery. That’s good enough for up to eight hours of continuous operation, according to Toro – enough for two typical working shifts.
And, thanks to the Toro Ultra Buggies’ narrow, 31.5″ width, they can easily navigate man doors on inside jobs, as well, making them ideal for indoor demolition and construction jobs. A zero-turn radius and auto-return dump mechanism that ensures the tub automatically returns to the proper resting position make things easy for the operator, too.
Toro says that each of its small (for Toro) e2500 Ultra Buggy units can replace as many as five wheelbarrows on a given job site. Pricing is expected to start at about $32,000.
Electrek’s Take
Electric equipment makes job sites cleaner, quieter, and safer than they are under diesel or gas power – and as more municipal and private sector RFPs begin to enforce ZEV requirements and quiet hours, more and more viable electric alternatives to ICE power will start to show up on more and more job sites (regardless of who is in the White House).
SOURCE | IMAGES: Toro, via Construction Equipment.
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