With two electric motors, 295 horsepower and an estimated 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds for the AWD Pro model, the ID.4 AWD offers competitive performance and all-weather traction3. It combines the permanent magnet synchronous electric motor on the rear axle of the standard ID.4 with a new asynchronous electric motor on the front axle.

In keeping with industry practice, unlike a traditional all-wheel-drive system, there are no mechanical links between the axles. The rear unit generates a maximum output of 201 horsepower and 228 lb.-ft. of torque, while the front unit has a maximum output of 107 horsepower and 119 lb.-ft. of torque4. The system has a total maximum output of 295 horsepower. Each motor connects to the wheels through a differential and a single-speed gearbox.

The variable all-wheel-drive system offers benefits compared to traditional mechanical set-ups. The rear motor handles most driving circumstances, leaving the front motor to engage only as needed, such as when the control system senses wheelspin at any corner. The motors can react faster than any combustion engine—within a few hundredths of a second—so that the driver never notices the changes – if, big if, the electronic calibration is adept.