Photography Courtesy VW
Has anyone ever told you that the GTI offers electrifying performance? Well, VW apparently plans to take that literally after debuting an all-electric ID. GTI concept at the 2023 IAA in Munich.
Based on the ID.2all concept shown back in March, the ID. GTI Concept is “more than just a show car—it is the first glimpse of the exciting GTI future because the decision has been taken that it will go into production.”
You might be asking yourself “If it’s an EV, then why is it still called a GTI? Shouldn’t it be called a GTE?”
Well, VW has that covered. The “I” now stands for “Intelligence” instead of “Injection.”
VW hasn’t revealed any performance numbers yet, but does say that customers will be able to make the ID. GTI drive, sound and even perform like previous GTI models:
Using a newly developed GTI Experience Control on the center console, the driver can choose which characteristics the ID. GTI Concept’s powertrain should have. For the first time, it is possible to adjust the drive system, running gear, steering, sound, and even the simulated shift points in the style of one of the historic GTI models—such as the original 1976 Golf GTI, the first 16-valve Golf GTI Mark 2 from 1986 or the 2001 Golf GTI Mark 4 ‘25 years of GTI’. This makes the ID. GTI Concept a highly dynamic time machine.
No word on when we’ll see a production version or when an EV GTI will appear at dealerships, but we do get a few specs:
I've been waiting for the first affordable "hot hatch" style EV to come out. It looks like this might be it! I'm excited to learn more. The Hot Hatch formula is great because you can typically daily, haul people, autocross, and trackday competently in a bone-stock configuration. How close do we think they'll get to the current $30,500 MSRP?
I really do and don't want to drive one 
This is the coolest "hot hatch" looking car I've seen in a while. Just needs a K-swap and manual gearbox. 
msterbeau said:This is the coolest "hot hatch" looking car I've seen in a while. Just needs a K-swap and manual gearbox.
So slower on purpose?
"Simulated shift points"!? Just. No. CVTs pretending to be an automatic n-speed transmission are bad enough; why are we simulating shift points in a vehicle with no transmission? Same with fake engine noise. Make an electric hot hatch the best thing it can be without pretending to be something it's not.
I'm very interested in an electric hot hatch, though probably anything with a VW badge on it would be a hard sell for me.
It needs to be AWD, at least as fast as the Focus RS and have an honest 250 mile range in the snow through the mountains. This isn't some arbitrary theoretical requirement for me: driving to Denver through the mountains in the snow to see a concert and back home without having to worry about stopping to charge or having to choose between getting home and running the heat is a regular real-world mission. Basically: it should do everything the Focus RS can for the same price and I'm there.
This is ID2 based, so it's a bit smaller than the current GTI. And it's not a Golf R. We don't need another $60k, 500 hp, overweight EV. This needs to be a price/performance replacement for the current GTI, not Golf R. $25-35k, 250 hp (and over 300 lb ft of torque, delivered instantly) with a 250-300 mile range. Basically like the $25k Bolt, but with VW styling (and hopefully what they promised about bringing buttons back for HVAC) and chassis dynamics and slightly bumped power and range.
Now if they WANT to base an upcoming Golf R EV on this, but with more power and AWD at a higher price point, fine. But we need to stop the EV HP arms race and build more sensible, affordable, fun EVs.
In reply to Chris_V :
Couldn't agree more. 500hp, $80k+ halo cars are fine, but please feed the hungry enthusiast masses, OEMs.
Really wish this was made by Honda instead of VW, but cheap forgives a lot of sins, provided they can keep pricing competitive
In reply to calteg :
I'm assuming (and please correct me if I'm misunderstanding you) that you're indicating you view the Honda as the higher quality vehicle?
If you've spent time in a VW product from the last 10 years, you'll know they have come miles and miles in both tactile feel and quality.
My e-Golf is hands down one of the best cars I've owned at any price point. I've owned North of a hundred cars to date, so I feel like this is saying something.
If the ID.GTI is built and hits the market in the U.S. (and if it comes with 4 doors), count me in VW U.S.A.
That's a really good looking car!
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