Volkswagen ID.X Performance Concept: A 550-HP Electric Sedan That Won’t Go On Sale

Volkswagen has been busy showcasing its electric vehicle (EV) lineup lately, with the ID.4 GTX and the ID.Life concepts making their debuts in the past few weeks. But the German automaker has another EV concept up its sleeve, and it’s a lot more powerful and aggressive than the others. It’s called the Volkswagen ID.X Performance Concept, and it’s essentially an ID.7 show car with power, suspension, and aerodynamic upgrades that won’t ever go on sale.

What is the Volkswagen ID.X Performance Concept?

The Volkswagen ID.X Performance Concept is based on the ID.7, a flagship sedan that was unveiled in April 2023. The ID.7 is the largest and most luxurious model in Volkswagen’s ID family of EVs, which are all built on the same modular electric platform (MEB). The ID.7 is expected to go on sale in Europe and China in late 2023, followed by North America in early 2024.

The ID.X Performance Concept takes the ID.7 and turns it into a high-performance machine that can rival some of the best sports sedans on the market. It features a dual-motor system that produces a whopping 550 horsepower (411 kilowatts), which is more than twice as much as the standard ID.7. The concept also has an all-wheel-drive system, a rear differential lock, and a boost mode that can unleash extra power for short bursts.

The concept also boasts a lowered suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and a huge rear wing that adds downforce and stability at high speeds. The front and rear bumpers have been redesigned with carbon fiber elements, such as a splitter and a diffuser, to improve aerodynamics and cooling. The concept also sports wider fenders, gold-colored 20-inch wheels, and a striking green paint job with black accents.

The interior of the concept is similar to the Volkswagen ID.7, but with some sporty touches. The seats are made of carbon fiber and wrapped in Alcantara, while the steering wheel and the dashboard have red stitching and accents. The concept also has a secondary display below the main infotainment screen that allows the driver to adjust the vehicle dynamics settings, such as the torque distribution, the differential lock, and the boost mode.

Why did Volkswagen make the ID.X Performance Concept?

Volkswagen says that the ID.X Performance Concept was created to showcase its MEB platform's potential and demonstrate its commitment to electric mobility. The concept was unveiled at the ID Treffen, a meeting of EV enthusiasts on the Swiss side of Lake Maggiore, where Volkswagen also presented its vision for a sustainable future.

“The MEB offers many fantastic possibilities for approaching vehicle development with great creativity,” said Andreas Reckewerth, head of MEB technology at Volkswagen. “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.”

Reckewerth also hinted that some of the features of the concept could make their way into future production models. “In this way we can show what is possible,” he said. “We are already working on transferring some elements into series production.”

Will Volkswagen sell the ID.X Performance Concept?

Unfortunately, no. The Volkswagen ID.X Performance Concept is a one-off show car that will not go on sale. It is meant to be a showcase of what Volkswagen can do with its electric platform, not a preview of an upcoming model.

However, that doesn’t mean that Volkswagen won’t offer any performance-oriented EVs in the future. The automaker has already launched the GTX sub-brand for its sporty EVs, starting with the ID.4 GTX crossover that debuted in April 2023. The GTX models will feature dual-motor systems, all-wheel-drive systems, and sporty styling cues.

Volkswagen could also launch an R sub-brand for its high-performance EVs, similar to how it offers R models for its internal combustion vehicles. The R models would likely have more power, aggressive styling, and advanced technology than the GTX models.

In fact, Volkswagen has already teased an R version of its iconic Golf hatchback in an electric form. The Golf eR1 concept was revealed in May 2023 as a prototype for testing new technologies for electric performance vehicles. The concept had a dual-motor system with over 400 horsepower (298 kilowatts) and a top speed of over 155 mph (250 km/h).

So while we may never see the Volkswagen ID.X Performance Concept on public roads, we can hope that Volkswagen will use some of its ideas and features for its future EVs. And who knows, maybe one day we will see an ID.7 GTX or an ID.7 R that will give us a taste of what an electric sports sedan can do.