“Houston We have a problem!” The radio message sent from the cockpit of the Saturn V rocket in April 1970 to the NASA control center in Texas (USA) is world famous. For the astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon, it was a matter of life and death. In our long-term ID.4 GTX test, the situation is much less dramatic. The electric SUV with the cool red and black double paintwork is still on the market for nearly twelve months, and is still the electric rocket among VW electric vehicles. The two electric motors on the front and rear axles together deliver a maximum of 299 hp – enough to easily get away from most other road users at traffic lights.
But as much as we love to glide over the asphalt in a whisper-quiet space glider, endurance testing hasn’t gone completely smoothly so far: neither VW’s spring software update to operating system 2.4 nor the latest software version 3.0 worked in early November. After several days in the workshop without results, we send out a call for help: Wolfsburg, we have a problem. It’s a software issue!
ID.4 still no update
We asked VW spokesperson Christian Frey from importer Amag. Disappointment spreads among him as well: “The current situation is not satisfactory for us as importers and for our customers in Switzerland. According to Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, the 3.0 “Wireless” update will be rolled out in various waves in Europe over the next few weeks, including here.” The reasons for the delay can only be guessed at. Officially, the update to the 3.0 software was released in early November “yet to reach 100 percent.” 100 was not ready” – no risk was taken. However, looking at the system information of our ID.4 it shows: Even version 2.4, which has been available for a long time, was not installed at the last workshop visit.
Unfulfilled updates have direct consequences for the testing process: because with software 3.0 the DC fast charging capacity would be increased from the previous maximum of 125 to at least 135 kilowatts – an improvement that would benefit ID. 4 GTX, especially on long highway roads. For the navigation system, which optimally calculates charging stations on long journeys, only the moderately convincing e-route planner could benefit from the update. In addition, the update would have optimized the voice control and introduced new displays for the head-up display with augmented reality functions.
Wolfsburg should accelerate
Our intermediate result after 15,000 kilometers: Wolfsburg urgently needs improvement when it comes to software. Also, to take control of the issues with the infotainment system that is still responsive and the help systems failing repeatedly. Because the VW ID.4 GTX convinces with its excellent driving characteristics; Without good software, every modern car goes through tough times today (also interesting: how software turned the entire car industry upside down).