Volkswagen’s sporty ID.X Performance show car is an all-electric sports limousine
Check out Volkswagen’s AWD vision of an all-electric sports limousine with 550 hp (411 kW), the ID.X Performance. The performance-oriented EV boasts several new design elements, “combining sporty performance with the elegant lines of a limousine.”
Volkswagen will premiere the new show car at the ID. Drivers Club meetup put together by fans in Ticino, Switzerland, today and tomorrow (September 8-9).
Maria Soni Reissfelder, head of marketing and sales for the Volkswagen ID. Family said presenting the new ID.X Performance at the event will enable them to meet up with enthusiasts.
Reissfelder added, “Andreas Reckewerth and his team of engineers have maximized the potential of the MEB in this vehicle, combining sporty performance with the elegant lines of a limousine.”
Reckewerth, head of tech office MEB, and his team based the ID.X Performance EV on Volkswagen’s new flagship ID.7 electric sedan. He explained that “the MEB offers many fantastic possibilities for approaching vehicle development with a great deal of creativity.”
The team wanted to base the show car on the ID.7 while focusing on a performance-oriented upgrade.
Meet the Volkswagen ID.X Performance EV
Volkswagen added several sporty features to boost dynamics. Engineers lowered the sports suspension by 60 mm (2.36 inches) with stiff springs to enhance agility and handling.
Both the front lip spoiler and rear diffusers are designed with carbon. In addition, the rear wing is made of carbon to enhance airflow.
Tinted taillights add to the dynamic appearance while the vehicle sits on 20-inch sports alloy wheels and size 265 racing tires. Red accent lines run along the base of the car, making the black carbon pop.
On the inside, carbon bucket seats and red accents on the steering wheel, doors, and dash further enhance the feel of a high-performance vehicle.
The ID.X Performance EV will feature AWD with a permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear and an asynchronous motor on the front axle.
Meanwhile, the drive torque is controlled by a Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which manages the rear axle differential lock on the vehicle. Users can control the function through the vehicle’s 6.7-inch (17 cm) center console screen.
Although you won’t be able to get your hands on the sporty electric limo (because it’s just a show car), Volkswagen began ID.7 pre-sales a few days ago in Germany, starting at around $62,000 (€56,995).
The ID.7 is Volkswagen’s flagship electric sedan. The automaker is rolling out the ID.7 Pro in Europe with an 86 kWh battery pack and 435 miles of range. Its North American launch will follow next year, but prices have yet to be finalized.
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The Stripe logo on a smartphone with U.S. dollar banknotes in the background.
Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images
Stripe cut 300 jobs, representing about 3.5% of its workforce, mostly in product, engineering and operations, CNBC has confirmed.
The payments company, valued at about $70 billion in the private markets, still expects to increase headcount by 10,000 by the end of the year, which would be a 17% increase, and is “not slowing down hiring,” according to a memo to staff from Chief People Office Rob McIntosh. Business Insider reported earlier on the cuts and the memo.
A Stripe spokesperson also confirmed to CNBC that a cartoon image of a duck with text that read, “US-Non-California Duck,” was accidentally attached as a PDF to emails sent to some of the employees who were laid off. Some of the emails mistakenly provided affected employees with an incorrect termination date, the spokesperson said.
McIntosh sent a follow-up email to staffers apologizing for the “notification error” and “any confusion it caused.”
“Corrected and full notifications have since been sent to all impacted Stripes,” he wrote.
In 2022, Stripe cut roughly 1,100 jobs, or 14% of its workers, downsizing alongside most of the tech industry, as soaring inflation and rising interest rates forced companies to focus on profits over growth. The Information reported that Stripe had a few dozen layoffs in its recruiting department in 2023.
Stripe’s valuation sank from a peak of $95 billion in 2021 to $50 billion in 2023, before reportedly rebounding to $70 billion last year as part of a secondary share sale. The company ranked third on last year’s CNBC Disruptor 50 list.
In October, Stripe agreed to pay $1.1 billion for crypto startup Bridge Network, whose technology is focused on making it easy for businesses to transact using digital currencies.
Brothers Patrick and John Collison, who founded Stripe in 2010, have intentionally steered clear of the public markets and have given no indication that an offering is on the near-term horizon. Total payment volume at the company surpassed $1 trillion in 2023.
WATCH: Early Bridge investor weighs in on $1.1 billion Stripe deal
Thinking about upgrading your EV? Rivian (RIVN) launched a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T. Here’s how you can snag some savings.
Rivian R1S and R1T upgrade deal offers up to $6,000
Rivian delivered over 51,500 vehicles last year as the EV maker gains momentum. Although it was only slightly higher than the ~50,100 delivered in 2023, Rivian is expected to see even more growth this year.
After shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant last April and renegotiating supplier contracts, Rivian has seen “significant cost improvements,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe.
Rivian also began delivering its next-gen R1S and R1T models last year. The new Large and Max battery packs have redesigned modules and more efficient packaging, “making them easier to manufacture and service.” For example, Rivian’s new EVs use seven ECUs, down from 17 in the first-generation R1T and R1S.
With new plant upgrades, reworked supplier contracts, and more efficient vehicles, Rivian is now passing the savings on to customers.
Rivian introduced a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1T or R1S. The bonus amount varies by trim:
- Tri with Max battery: $6,000 USD / CAD 8,600
- Dual with Max battery and Performance upgrade: $4,500 USD / CAD 6,500
- Dual with Max battery: $3,000 USD / CAD 4,300
The offer is for current R1T or R1S owners or lessees in the US and Canada. Rivian launched the new promo on January 21, and it runs through March 31, 2025.
After you purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle, Rivian will apply a discount toward the MSRP. You must take delivery by March 31, 2025. In the fine print, Rivian stated, “You must request a trade-in estimate to qualify for this offer, but trade-in of a vehicle is not required.”
Any other models are excluded from the offer. These include Dual Standard configurations, Dual with Large battery configurations, custom builds, demo vehicles, and pre-owned vehicles.
The new offer follows Rivian’s previous upgrade promo introduced last October, giving qualifying gas-powered vehicle owners or lessees up to $3,000.
Check out the Rivian R1 Shop to view eligible models. You can see eligible Rivian R1S here and R1T models here.
Electrek’s Take
Rivian’s R1S was already the tenth best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year, with nearly 27,000 models sold. With more driving range and power at a lower cost, the electric SUV could see even more demand in 2025.
Then again, with the arrival of new luxury electric SUVs, like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Volvo EX90, Rivian will face more competition in the US.
Rivian’s latest promo comes as the Company looks to carry the momentum from the end of 2024 into the new year. The EV maker is offering other deals, including 1.99% APR for 60 months on the R1 Dual with a Max Battery and Performance upgrade.
Even if you are not eligible for the promo, we can still help you find deals on Rivian’s electric SUV in your area. You can use our links below to view offers on the Rivian R1S and R1T near you today.
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