Electric hot hatch previews £26,000 Volkswagen ID GTI

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【Summary】The Volkswagen ID GTI concept previews the brand's electric future, drawing inspiration from the original Golf GTI. It will be part of Volkswagen's entry-level electric car lineup, featuring a front-mounted electric motor, sport suspension, GTI design elements, and an expected starting price of £26,000. The production version will be revealed in 2026 and on sale in early 2027.

FutureCar Staff Sep 04, 2023 4:30 PM PT

Electric hot hatch previews £26,000 Volkswagen ID GTI

The Volkswagen ID GTI concept gives us a glimpse into the future of the iconic performance brand. It pays homage to the original Golf GTI while embracing the electric revolution.

Set to make its debut at the 2023 Munich motor show, the ID GTI will be the hot hatch variant of the upcoming ID 2. Positioned as Volkswagen's new entry-level electric car, it will feature a front-mounted electric motor, specially tuned sport suspension, classic GTI design elements, and an expected starting price of around €30,000 (£26,000).

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has confirmed that production of the ID GTI has already been decided as part of the company's electric offensive. He describes the car as sporty, technologically progressive, and accessible, with a new interpretation for the future: electric, fully connected, and extremely emotive. The production version of the ID GTI will be unveiled in 2026 and go on sale in early 2027.

Schäfer also expressed his commitment to preserving iconic names like GTI on future electric models, stating that it would be "crazy" to let them fade away. However, the GTX branding, introduced two years ago, will continue to be used for four-wheel-drive sporting models. The R badge will be reserved for the most high-performance all-wheel-drive models.

The ID GTI is based on the same shortened version of Volkswagen's MEB platform as the standard ID 2, known as MEB Entry. It features a front-mounted electric motor and a "large" battery, likely the 56kWh pack that will be available in the ID 2.

While technical details have not been disclosed, the development of the ID GTI has been linked to the range-topping version of the upcoming Cupra Raval. This variant is expected to produce up to 226bhp, enabling a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds and a range of up to 273 miles. These figures position the ID GTI as a strong competitor against hot hatch rivals such as the Abarth 500e, Alpine A290, and new Mini Cooper Electric.