Fully electric, fully extreme:
the ID. XTREME off-road concept car

Take an Xtra portion of passion, an Xtra pinch of enthusiasm and a test vehicle that is no longer needed in series development after successful trials. The Xtravagant things that can come out of this are impressively demonstrated by the ID. XTREME off-road concept car.

“The all-electric concept vehicle with all-wheel drive is based on the ID.4 GTX and convincingly demonstrates the high technical potential of the modular electric drive matrix (MEB),” explains Andreas Reckewerth, Head of MEB Complete Vehicle. “The impressive electric power and the chassis with off-road capability are guarantees for extremely emotive driving experiences both on the road and on off-road terrain. In order to achieve this, the ID. XTREME combines the strengths of a modern SUV with the adventurous spirit and 4x4 capabilities of a robust off-roader.” The concept vehicle was designed and built in Volkswagen’s Engineering department in the team led by Andreas Reckewerth.

System power increases by 65 kW to a total of 285 kW

The team increased the ID. XTREME’s system power by 65 kW to a total of 285 kW/387 PS by means of a performance drive on the rear axle as well as software adjustments to the drive control unit. This is equivalent to an increase in power by almost 30 percent. The new performance drive at the rear delivers 205 kW. In combination with the 80 kW front engine, the ID. XTREME accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds.

Higher rally running gear from motorsport

The unique all-electric off-roader features 30 mm higher rally running gear from motorsport with 20 mm wide track plates. This makes the ID. XTREME stable, agile and safe even on uneven terrain. The 18-inch wheels with off-road tyres are covered flush by 3D-printed wheel housing extensions. They widen the wings by 50 mm and contribute to the confident off-road appearance of the ID. XTREME.

The underbody is protected by particularly robust and completely closed aluminium cladding. This starts at the front of the vehicle directly under the number plate and also protects the 77 kWh high-voltage battery in the middle of the vehicle as well as the rear section. The modified crash member is specially designed for the no-frills, very stable front protection bar.

Additional LED light strip on the outdoor roof rack

With its honeycomb-like structure, the eye-catching outdoor roof rack with an extremely high load capacity picks up on a special design feature of the ID. model family. With the central engraving "Made with passion and friends", the outdoor roof rack tells the story of the creation of this extremely emotive concept vehicle. The front LED light strip of the design roof carrier brightly illuminates roads and the vehicle surroundings of the ID. XTREME when driving in dark conditions. This enables the driver to find their way safely through inhospitable terrain or snow-covered landscapes even in poor visibility and to detect obstacles early on.

Xtra presence and Xtra outdoor character

The versatile off-roader also shows its best side on tarmac roads with internally blackened, powerful front headlights and lens frames in orange. The tilting panoramic sunroof lets plenty of light into the interior. Another special feature of the ID. XTREME is the high-quality and unusual customised paintwork. In addition to the concept-specific orange and the contrasting colour in matt black, there are repeated dark, dust-like traces on the light-coloured vehicle surfaces. With this rough effect, the ID. XTREME emphasises its outdoor character. The illuminated Volkswagen badges in the centre of the light strip at the front and rear are typical of the ID. family and have also been adopted for this concept vehicle.

Interior offers extremely high level of travel comfort

The ID. XTREME’s interior is dominated by the elegant yet robust look of the grey microfibre fabric upholstery. The front sports seats bear the ID. XTREME logo in the upper area, while all decorative seams of the vehicle seats are in the vehicle-specific accent colour orange. On the rear bench seat, the centre seat has been removed in favour of a spacious, folding load-through hatch. The recessed seat shells provide secure support for the occupants, even off-road.

There is a fixed centre console with armrest for maximum travel comfort in the front seats and additional storage space. The air vents and the lower steering wheel clip are also in the contrasting orange colour. The fabric upholstery is also used for the front dash trim and door inlays. The typical ID. dash panel has a black trim surround.

The display’s boot screen has been specially designed in the ID. XTREME look and puts the driver in an adventurous mood as soon as they get in. In addition, there is a vehicle-specific ID. Light as well as an additional tilt angle display. The developers have placed a special focus on the sound of the ID. XTREME. The driving noise was developed together with Volkswagen Design especially for the concept vehicle and is output to the outside via a sound generator in the wheel housing.

Extremely sustainable idea

The concept for the ID. XTREME goes back to a sustainable development process at Volkswagen. The retired test vehicle of the ID.4 GTX and the accompanying 77 kWh battery celebrate their second life in the ID. XTREME. This unusual second-life approach is made possible above all thanks to Volkswagen's versatile MEB platform. Its architecture allows for a completely new layout because the technical components take up relatively little space due to their design. The interior becomes a generous open space with an airy feel and plenty of legroom in the front and rear seating areas.

The ID. XTREME was presented to the public for the first time in September 2022 at the second International ID. Treffen in Locarno. The event at Lake Maggiore in Switzerland is well on its way to becoming the electric mobility counterpart to the famous Volkswagen GTI Treffen at the Wörthersee lake.