Volkswagen revealed the new ID.3 GTI, a new electric hot hatch that’s more powerful than the Golf GTI. It’s VW’s most powerful GTI ever.
Meet the new Volkswagen ID.3 GTI EV hot hatch
To celebrate the GTI’s 50th anniversary, Volkswagen introduced the most powerful series-production model ever to wear the iconic badge.
Following the ID. Polo, the ID.3 is Volkswagen’s second EV to get the GTI treatment. It’s also Volkswagen’s first rear-wheel-drive (RWD) GTI.
With 322 horsepower (240 kW) and 402 lb-ft (545 Nm) of torque delivered to the rear axle, the electric hot hatch can sprint from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 5.6 seconds. In comparison, the Golf GTI Edition 50 delivers 321 horsepower (239 kW) and accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds.
Volkswagen calls it a “true GTI” with a flexible interior and the ability to be used as an everyday vehicle.
The electric hot hatch offers “GTI Dynamics,” VW said, with an adaptive DCC sports chassis, low center of gravity, direct progressive steering, Launch Control, and a new GTI mode as standard.
GTI mode is the “secret sauce,” as Volkswagen describes it, unlocking the vehicle’s full potential. All settings are set to “maximum sportiness,” including the drive, chassis, rear motor, and steering.
Meanwhile, the new Launch Control can be activated, changing the background lighting to red and switching the Digital Cockpit to GTI mode.
Like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, Volkswagen’s new ID.3 GTI replicates the sound of a traditional combustion engine sports car.
As expected, the electric hot hatch features plenty of GTI badges inside and out. It also features VW’s new front-end design with a red stripe in tribute to the first Golf GTI launched in 1976, plus new 20″ Wörthersee wheels.
From the side, you can clearly see that the ID.3 GTI is longer and sportier than the current ID.3 GTX it replaces.
According to Volkswagen, the new ID.3 GTI hot hatch is “one of the sportiest electric vehicles in its class.”
Inside, Volkswagen’s electric hot hatch features GTI elements throughout, including a red stripe that runs across the dashboard, a red 12 o’clock marking on the new multifunction steering wheel, and premium sports seats.
It also includes Volkswagen’s new infotainment system and Digital Cockpit with a larger 12.9″ infotainment screen and 10″ instrument cluster. VW is bringing back physical buttons, which are now found under the infotainment and on the steering wheel.
Based on the new VW ID.3 Neo, the GTI variant uses the larger 79 kWh battery, which provides up to 373 miles (601 km) of WLTP range.
With DC fast charging of up to 183 kW, the electric ID.3 GTI’s battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes.
Volkswagen will open pre-sales for the new ID.3 GTI in early 2027. We will learn prices closer to launch, but it will likely be a bit more than the ID. Polo GTI, which starts at 39,000 euros ($45,000) in Germany.
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