Volkswagen on Wednesday revealed a new range-topping version of its ID.4 battery-electric compact crossover.

The version is the ID.4 GTX which features a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system good for an estimated 302 hp, plus some sporty design elements inside and out.

VW has confirmed that the ID.4 GTX won’t be sold in the United States, though we’ll get its same spicy powertrain in a model to be known as the ID.4 AWD Pro. The ID.4 AWD Pro reaches dealerships later this year with an 82-kilowatt-hour battery and starting price of $44,890.

GTX is VW’s new branding for electric performance vehicles, similar to its GTI, GTE, GTD and GLI badges used on performance vehicles fitted with internal-combustion engines.

Volkswagen ID.4 GTX (Euro spec)

VW didn’t say why the GTX badge isn’t being introduced here. Perhaps it’s because the automaker didn’t want to remind local buyers of its Jetta GTX from the early 1990s. VW may also be conscious of drawing associations with the Plymouth GTX muscle car.

Claimed performance estimates for the ID.4 GTX include a 0-62 mph time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed governed at 112 mph. Expect similar numbers for the ID.4 AWD Pro.

The ID.4 started sales in the U.S. earlier in spring. It’s priced from $41,190 and comes as standard with the same 82-kwh battery as the ID.4 GTX, but only a single motor at the rear generating 201 hp. The EPA-rated range for this configuration is 250 miles.

Buyers not in a hurry can look forward to a lower starting price in 2022 when production of the ID.4 starts at VW’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. VW said the starting price will be dropped to around $35,000 once local production starts. Currently the ID.4 is sourced from a plant in Germany.

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Honda on Wednesday finally revealed full details on its redesigned 2022 Civic sedan which goes on sale later this spring.

There will also be a redesigned Civic Hatchback (shown below) arriving later in the year, with the more practical body style to once again serve as the basis of a Civic Type R performance flagship. A coupe body style won’t return, due to the outgoing generation’s waning popularity.

2022 Honda Civic Hatchback spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

The 2022 Civic has adopted a more mature look for its latest redesign, and the proportions, with a low hood and cab pushed rearward, belie the car’s front-wheel-drive underpinnings. This isn’t just for looks, mind you. For example, by moving the A-pillars further back relative to the driver by almost two inches, Honda said visibility has been improved. The wheelbase has also been increased by 1.4 inches and the rear track has been widened by 0.5 inches.

There are eight exterior colors, including the new options of Meteorite Gray Metallic, Sonic Gray Pearl and the Civic-exclusive Morning Mist Blue Metallic.

2022 Honda Civic

The interior design has also seen a major step up in refinement and technology. It follows the more mature theme of the exterior by combining a clean, uncluttered look with the latest technology. We’re talking a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster (partial standard), plus a 9.0-inch touchscreen for the infotainment (7.0-inch standard). An interesting feature is the mesh strip running the dash, which hides the air vents.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard while a 12-speaker Bose sound system and wireless charging are available.

2022 Honda Civic

Underpinning the 2022 Civic is a more rigid version of the outgoing Civic’s platform. According to Honda, improvements in both body and chassis stiffness (8% better torsional rigidity and 13% better bending rigidity) have led to improvements in ride and handling, as well as noise, vibration and harshness levels.

Powertrains carry over, albeit with improvements in refinement and fuel economy, and extra power in the case of the 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4. The base engine is a 2.0-liter inline-4 rated at 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. Above this is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 rated at 180 hp and 177 lb-ft, up 6 hp and 15 lb-ft from the outgoing engine’s rating. The sole transmission available for now is a continuously variable unit.

2022 Honda Civic Type R spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

Honda hasn’t mentioned powertrains for the future Civic Si and Civic Type R (shown above) but expect the same setup from the outgoing cars, perhaps with performance dialed up a little. The 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 in the outgoing Si makes 205 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, and the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 in the outgoing Type R spits out 306 hp and 295 lb-ft.

With the new generation of the Civic, Honda is handling production of the sedan at a plant in Alliston, Canada. The hatchback, including the Type R, will be built at a plant in Greensburg, Indiana. Currently, all Civic Hatchbacks are sourced from a plant in the United Kingdom that is scheduled to be shuttered this summer.

For more on the Honda Civic, read the in-depth reviews at The Car Connection.

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