The Sleuth is bowled over by the automaker’s first electric vehicle for North America. The sharp-looking 2021 ID.4 midsize wagon is built on a platform that will support future VW electric cars heading our way over the next few years. The ID.4’s 288 battery cells are encased beneath the body. The motor, which makes 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque, is uniquely positioned between the rear wheels. The first ID.4’s will be rear-wheel-drive and offer a maximum range of up to 250 miles. A model with 302 horsepower and all-wheel-drive arrives later in the model year. Volkswagen says the batteries can be charged to 80 percent of capacity from empty in less than 40 minutes at a commercial-grade charging station. Using a 240-volt home system, a full top up takes an estimated 7.5 hours. Pricing for the base ID.4 starts at $40,000 (plus destination fees), minus applicable government rebates.
The ID.4’s $40,000 base price includes 201 electric horsepower and a claimed maximum range of 250 miles: PHOTO: VOLKSWAGEN