Volkswagen has revealed a high-performance concept based on the ID.7 model. While it’s still in the concept phase, a production version, likely to bear the GTX designation, is on the horizon. The brand’s design team has transformed the ID.7 into a sporty model with aggressive new bumpers, side skirts, and a substantial spoiler mounted on the trunk lid.

Unfortunately, beyond the striking exterior, it’s unlikely that we’ll see the same powertrain as the concept, which generates 558 horsepower. Volkswagen is more likely to stick to their established approach with other ID. models, with power output reaching around 400 horsepower. However, we’ll have to wait and see.

The spoiler, along with the front splitter and rear diffuser, is crafted from carbon fiber. Black fender flares cover a set of forged 20-inch wheels, which, combined with a 60mm suspension drop, contribute to the new stance. Engineers have increased the front suspension’s camber angle by 80mm and wrapped the wheels in 265-millimeter Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires for the track, maximizing the additional power of the ID.X.

The vehicle’s power increases momentarily, while the dynamics control system manages torque. The driver may operate the rear axle differential lock in the ID.X Performance through this system as well, thanks to the large 17-inch touchscreen situated in the dashboard’s centre.

A group of engineers worked on the model’s development to make the most out of it by fusing a sedan’s graceful appearance with a dynamic performance. VW is anticipated to unveil the production-ready ID.7 GTX shortly, which will come with a 4×4 drivetrain and two electric motors.

The test car

When creating a car, between 100 and 200 test cars are made. They go through many different tests from light scratches to severe crashes, including adverse weather conditions. Most such cars remain for scrap, others in warehouses. However, Volkswagen has taken a different approach with one of the ID.4 test cars. The Xtreme Concept, on display in Locarno, Switzerland, gives an idea of what an off-road version of Volkswagen’s electric crossover could look like.

Configuration

The concept is based on the ID.4 GTX, which means it’s ID. Xtreme has two engines and four-wheel drive. After software changes to the control unit, the electric car makes 382 horsepower, which is 87 horsepower more than the standard GTX.

Exterior

ID. Xtreme also gets an aggressive, more extreme off-road look. This is thanks to the 18-inch off-road wheels and approximately 2.0-inch-wider 3D-printed wheel arches. The redesigned front bumper has a butch bull bar and a Led light bar is well fixed on the roof for night adventures as well. A completely closed aluminum underbody has been installed to protect the battery. Volkswagen has not provided photos of the interior, but they have said that there are redesigned seats that are wrapped in Alcantara. ID. Xtreme is equipped with a sound generator in the wheels that project some kind of noise while driving.

Summary

We highly doubt we’ll see this version in production, even though rivals from Honda, Hyundai and Subaru have provided similar cars in this class. Maybe Volkswagen will join, who knows.

The Seat sports brand has confirmed that it will expand its portfolio from four models to six at the moment. So far, Cupra has honed Ateca, Leon, Formentor and Born.

The Cupra Tavascan is expected to be launched in 2024. This will be the brand’s first all-electric SUV and the second all-electric model. The model we are showing (UrbanRebel) will be released a year later. Its base price will vary around 25,000 euros.

The exterior

The exterior of the car demonstrates a change to a more progressive aesthetic appearance of the brand, although it retains the characteristics and style of the Cupra. Cupra head Jorge Diez says the exterior aims to “inject a gamification look“.

There is a drastic change in the front of the model. From the original round shapes, Cupra have put their handwriting and changed the model with sharp details, and the new headlights are now triangular. This makes the car look drastically more aggressive.

The dimensions of the UrbanRebel are 4080mm long, 1795mm wide and 1444mm tall, making it similar in size to the petrol-engined Seat Arona.

Engine

The machine will have 335 hp and the peak power of the electric motor will reach 429 hp. from 0-62 miles acceleration will be 3.2 seconds. But we still can’t say whether these will be the final features of the production model.

Carlos Sainz won the first stage victory for Audi in the Dakar Rally. The Spaniard covered the 255-kilometer section around Al Arabia in nearly 2 hours and 53 minutes. Hank Lategan finished second with Toyota in just 38 seconds, and Sainz teammate Stefan Peterhansel finished third.

The battle

The three-time Dakar winner was behind Lategan for most of the stage. Carlos did not allow the South African to take a serious lead. In the last kilometers, the Audi driver overtook Hank and recorded the 40th stage success and the first one for an electric car. Third place went to Peterhansel, who returned to the race thanks to the new rules. The Frenchman lost more than 20 hours on the first day and lost all chances for a good performance.

Nani Roma finished fourth in the Prodrive buggy, followed by Matthias Extreme in Audi’s third car and Yazid Al Raji in a private Toyota. The top 10 was supplemented by the teammates in the factory team of the Japanese Ginel de Villier and Nasser Al-Atiya, Lucio Alvarez with the other private Toyota. The tenth place went to Roma teammate Orlando Terranova. The winner of the second day, Sebastian Loeb, had technical problems, which caused him to lose about half an hour.

Audi has unveiled the concept A6 e-tron at the Shanghai Motor Show, which will be up to 95 percent similar to the production model. The four-door liftback, or as it is called in the Sportback company itself, is the first Audi built on the new PPE (Premium Platform Electric) electric platform. The concept is larger than the current A6: it is longer, wider and taller, and the rims are 22 inches. The drag coefficient is 0.22, more than that of the Mercedes-Benz EQS (0.20).

The A6 e-tron has cameras instead of exterior mirrors, retractable door handles and special matrix headlights that can project navigation signs on the road or information about the remaining battery charge. Whether this technology will get the production car, Audi does not specify.

The Audi A6 e-tron is powered by two electric units (one on the front and one on the rear axle). The total power of the electric motors reaches 476 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. From standstill to 100 km / h, the electric liftback accelerates in less than 4 seconds.

The battery capacity is 100 kilowatt hours, provides a power reserve of up to 700 kilometers. Express charging from five to 80 percent takes about 25 minutes and in 10 minutes you can increase mileage by about 300 kilometers.

The debut of the new-generation Audi A6 will take place in the second half of 2022, and the model will go on sale in early 2023. Production is organized in factories in Germany and China.