What does that mean for the IDEX NEO TOP? The base battery pack is a mere 85 kWh – smaller than many luxury EVs – yet it delivers a WLTP range of . The flagship “TOP” trim we are testing adds a structural second-layer pack (another 40 kWh) in the transmission tunnel and rear footwells, bringing total capacity to 125 kWh and a range of over 950 kilometers (590 miles) . But NEO’s trick isn’t just capacity; it’s thermal performance.
The rear seats are where the NEO TOP betrays its “hypercar for four” promise. Due to the structural battery pack raising the floor, rear passengers sit in a slightly reclined, knees-up position – comfortable for two hours, but not a transcontinental lounge. The trade-off is a glass roof that dims not by electrochromic film, but by millions of microscopic shutters that close in milliseconds, creating a pixelated shade pattern that follows the sun’s position.
Is the VAG IDEX NEO TOP perfect? No. The price is astronomical for a vehicle wearing a VW badge (estimated €185,000 before options). The rear seat ergonomics compromise long-distance comfort. The holographic UI, while futuristic, will frustrate anyone who just wants to adjust the climate control without a tutorial. And the sheer performance – 0-100 in under two seconds – is arguably unusable on public roads.
One Tuesday, while Elara was perched in her pod at the Neo Top, the grid pulsed. This wasn't a standard data surge. It felt like a heartbeat.