Volkswagen reveals a 'Golf R' EV

VW has shown what is possible in terms of hot hatch development, with its ID electric vehicle platform.

The German company’s head of passenger cars, Ralf Brandstätter, has revealed a new version of the ID.4 that has strong Golf R overtures. For loyal followers of VW’s hot hatch business, the question of a performance-orientated ID.4 has been tantalising.

A team under Brandstätter was given some budget and design freedom, to create a lightweight version of the ID.4 GTX. Although the dual-motor electric powertrain remains unchanged, VW’s technical experts have managed to take a lot of weight out of the car, despite the battery capacity increasing to 82kWh.

The ID.4 GTX produces 220kW and the lightweight concept has 245kW but is also 200kg lighter. That improves its 0-100 kph sprint time, which is nearly a second faster than the standard ID.4 GTX. VW’s lightweight concept runs the benchmark sprint time in 5.3 seconds, compared to the ID.4 GTX’s 6.2 seconds.

Beyond its weight reduction, the ID.4 GTX lightweight concept also has unique software, enabling a drift mode, with torque vectoring. It also rolls larger wheels and has some trick neon design details.

VW fans who are particularly perceptive will notice that the ID.4 GTX lightweight concept also has a slightly lower stance, thanks to revised suspension components.

Sadly, this lightweight VW EV is a concept unicorn – and has no immediate production plans. But it does show, that VW’s legacy engineering prowess in the world of hot hatches, will continue.

This article originally appeared on Cars.co.za.