Volkswagen Golf R continues to thrive in the electric age.

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【Summary】Volkswagen's Golf name and high-performance R models will continue in the electric era, with the possibility of an all-electric Golf R in 2028. The Golf will be placed on Volkswagen Group's new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) after a revised Golf Mk 8.5 in 2024. The GTI version is expected, but the R version will likely be available only with the SSP platform. The future of Volkswagen's ID brand and ID.3 name is uncertain, with the possibility of a different model using the ID.3 name.

FutureCar Staff Sep 05, 2023 9:18 AM PT

Volkswagen Golf R continues to thrive in the electric age.

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer has confirmed that the Golf name and high-performance R models will continue to exist in Volkswagen's electric era. He stated that an all-electric Golf R could be a possibility in 2028, utilizing the advanced SSP architecture of the Volkswagen Group. Schafer also mentioned that the iconic names guaranteed to be carried into the future are Golf, Tiguan, and GTI.

According to Schafer, the Golf will likely be placed directly on the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). There will be a renewed Golf next year, leading up to the decision of whether to introduce it immediately or at a later time. Schafer emphasized that the future Golf will maintain its true essence in terms of package and drivability. The next all-new Golf, based on the new SSP, is expected to arrive in 2028.

While a GTI version of the new all-electric Golf seems likely, Schafer clarified that an R version of the 2028 Golf would only be possible with the SSP platform due to the need for four-wheel drive. He explained that the R line will still be available for the internal combustion engine (ICE) models, but the transition to SSP will mark the end of the recently launched GTX models.

The future of the ID brand is also uncertain as Volkswagen plans to merge its ICE and battery electric vehicle (BEV) line-ups by 2033. The ID.3 is expected to be replaced by the new Golf EV in 2028, resulting in minimal overlap. Schafer mentioned that the ID name might not be necessary in the future, considering the differentiation from ICE vehicles will no longer be required. However, the decision regarding the complete removal or potential use of individual names is still unclear.

Schafer hinted that the ID.3 name could live on with a different model, but it is yet to be decided. The debate over the Golf name even extended to the ID. GTI Concept, which was revealed at the Munich Motor Show. Schafer explained that the GTI Concept, based on the upcoming small ID.2 electric car, cannot be called Golf or Polo due to differences in size and package. The GTI Concept is expected to be priced at €25,000 and will be on sale in 2025.

In conclusion, Volkswagen is committed to preserving the Golf name and its high-performance variants in the electric era. The future Golf models will be based on the Scalable Systems Platform, with an all-electric Golf R being a possibility in 2028. The ID brand's future is uncertain, but the ID.3 name might continue with a different model. The GTI Concept, based on the ID.2, will not be called Golf or Polo due to its unique characteristics.