Electric cars with all-wheel drive: 5 thrilling advancements
Sportier, more agile, and safer: All-wheel drive offers undeniable advantages for everyday driving. It's no wonder electric cars with four-wheel drive are becoming increasingly popular. GQ provides an overview.
Electric cars with all-wheel drive: The 5 coolest models of the season
In Germany, on average a quarter of all car buyers opt for a vehicle with four-wheel drive when buying a new car - and the trend is rising. This is mainly due to the SUV boom, because if a car looks like an off-road adventure, then the technical basis for it should also be on board.
In addition, the constantly increasing engine performance is leading to more and more four-wheel drive models. The high horsepower of many new vehicles would overwhelm front-wheel drive vehicles, according to the ADAC. The all-wheel drive trend has long since reached e-mobility. More and more manufacturers are offering battery-electric vehicles with four-wheel drive. GQ presents five new electric all-wheel drive vehicles.
These are the 5 most exciting electric models with all-wheel drive in 2024
#1: Porsche Macan 4
Hardly any other brand has as high a share of all-wheel drive in new registrations as the premium manufacturer Porsche. Almost 75 percent of Porsche customers opt for a 4x4 drive. This is probably no different for the sporty SUV Macan.
The second electric series from the Zuffenhausen brand is currently offered in two different all-wheel drive versions: as the Porsche Macan 4 with up to 300 kW (408 hp) of power and as the Macan Turbo with up to 470 kW (639 hp) of all-wheel power.
Frameless doors, a muscular-looking rear and wheels up to 22 inches in size also make the car stand out visually. The range of the electric all-wheel drive vehicle is up to 613 kilometers. Prices for the 4x4 variants start at 84,100 euros.
#2: VW ID.Buzz GTX
Volkswagen is advertising the ID.Buzz GTX as the “most powerful series-produced Bulli of all time”. Like the other variants of the ID.Buzz , the GTX is visually based on the VW Bulli T1, which was first introduced in 1950. The borrowings can be recognized by the large VW logo on the front section or the stylish two-tone paintwork.
VW uses the GTX suffix to adorn the particularly powerful versions of the electric models, which are usually all-wheel drive vehicles. This is also the case with the ID.Buzz GTX. The electric van then comes with up to 250 kW (340 hp). The all-wheel drive variant was presented in March and is available from 73,101 euros. The e-bus is available as a five-, six- or seven-seater. The range is around 400 kilometers.
#3: GWM Ora 07 GT
Numerous Chinese manufacturers are currently targeting the European market with their electric cars. One of the models that is also intended to attract new customers in Germany for e-mobility made in China is the GWM Ora 07 from the Chinese company Great Wall Motor.
The electric sedan is available in three versions. The top model, the GWM Ora 07 GT, comes with all-wheel drive and 300 kW (408 hp) of power as standard. With the larger 86 kWh battery on board, the car can travel up to 520 kilometers. The design is quite unique: the elongated lines of the body, the round headlights and the panoramic glass roof that extends to the trunk lid are striking. Anyone who opts for the all-wheel drive vehicle will have to pay at least 53,490 euros.
#4: Ford Explorer
The new Ford Explorer is a special car. On the one hand, because the electric car bears the name of a Ford icon - the original Explorer has been successfully marketed as a large SUV in the USA since 1990. On the other hand, because the SUV is the first electric Ford to use technology from Volkswagen.
For the Explorer, Ford is relying on VW's modular electronics kit, MEB for short - the basic technical framework consisting of the drive unit, chassis and other essential components. The car is also available as an Explorer Extended Range AWD, the abbreviation stands for All Wheel Drive. The range is up to 566 kilometers. Prices start at 52,430 euros.
#5: Polestar 4
This vehicle is striking. Firstly from the side, because the Polestar 4 is designed like a symbiosis of SUV and sports coupe. This ensures particularly good aerodynamics. But the car is particularly surprising from behind: The Polestar 4 no longer has a rear window.
The view from the driver's seat is only possible via a camera mirror in the interior. Two different engines are available for the vehicle from the Chinese conglomerate Geely. The more powerful of the two Polestar variants has all-wheel drive. The most important performance figures of the car: 400 kW (544 hp), a range of up to 590 kilometers and a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. The 4x4 variant costs from 65,900 euros.
Via GQ Germany