The Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV and ID.5 electric SUV coupé that are due to arrive in Australia next year have undergone upgrades, with increased range to around 550 kilometres and a new generation of infotainment system and software.
Volkswagen announced this week that all Pro and GTX versions of the two cars will feature a new drive system, although the size of the 77kWh battery remains the same.
The new high-efficiency drive system was first introduced in the ID.7 and offers significantly more power as well as reduced energy consumption. The upgraded electric drive now boasts 210kW/545Nm rear-wheel-drive for the ID.4 and ID.5 Pros, equivalent to 60kW more power than the previous models.
Meanwhile, the GTX variants will get a new system power of 250kW, meaning it can now accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 180km/h – the same speed that the Pros have now been increased to match.
The combined WLTP range of the upgraded ID.4 Pro is increased to up to 550 kilometres, while the upgraded ID.5 Pro will have a range of up to 556 kilometres.
Both upgraded models will be available at the same base price as their predecessors, significantly improving the price to performance ratio.
The ID.4 base model, the ID.4 Pure, remains unchanged, with a maximum speed of 160km/h and a 125kW motor.
While the ID.4 and ID.5 models with rear-wheel drive will continue to charge with 135kW, the all-wheel-drive models will now also offer DC charging capacity that has been increased from 135kW to 175kW.
With the maximum charging capacity, then, the AWD ID. models can now add 178km of charge in around 10 minutes.
A small charging increase has been woven into the ID.4 Pure, with maximum charging capacity of up to 115kW, up from 110kW.
New charging and thermal management of all ID.4 and ID.5 models will ensure the battery is pre-conditioned while driving before the next DC charging stop, while the running gear of the ID. models has also been reconfigured.
Inside, the latest generation software has been incorporated on the ID. infotainment systems, adding increased speed and more functions. Both the ID.4 and ID.5 are now equipped with a 32.8cm infotainment display and a new menu structure as well as upgrades to the Digital Cockpit and optional augmented reality heads-up display.
Volkswagen has also removed and separated the driving mode selector from the housing of the Digital Cockpit and designed it as a steering column switch like in the ID.7, creating space for the larger infotainment display.
A new IDA voice assistant responds more precisely to natural voice commands and offers new functions including cloud-based weather information and the status of sporting events.
A new premium sound system from Harman Kardon with 480 Watts of music output and 10 speakers (including centre speaker and subwoofer) is now included as an option for both models.
“Our customers can look forward to exceptional technical performance with the new ID.4 and the new ID.5,” said Imelda Labbé, member of the Volkswagen brand board of management with responsibility for sales, marketing, and aftersales.
“Software and infotainment are state-of-the-art. In addition, there are extensive assistance systems that leave nothing to be desired. The further improved ID.4 and ID.5 models are at the top of the segment with their new technologies and the acknowledged balance of driving, comfort and spaciousness.”
