Volkswagen has previewed a feisty, affordable performance variant of the upcoming ID 2 with the new ID GTI concept - a car that harks back to the original Golf GTI in spirit and styling.
A headliner at the 2023 Munich motor show, the compact front-wheel-drive hot hatch is earmarked to head Volkswagen's new entry-level electric car line-up with a front-mounted electric motor, specially tuned sport suspension, traditional GTI design elements and a price expected to start at around €30,000 (£26,000).
"Production has already been decided as part of our electric offensive," said Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer in a clear statement of intent for the first electric GTI model. "It remains sporty, technologically progressive and accessible, but now has a new interpretation for tomorrow's world: electric, fully connected and extremely emotive."
Although no official date has been announced for its launch yet, the production version of the ID GTI looks set to follow standard forms of the ID 2 into showrooms around a year later, indicating a late-2026 introduction in the UK.
Confirmation of the hot ID 2 comes after Schäfer told Autocar he was seeking to ensure long-standing Volkswagen names like GTI are retained on future electric models. "We have iconic names," he said. "It would be crazy to let them die and slip away."
As has always been the case, the GTI name will be applied exclusively to front-driven performance models. The two-year-old GTX name will continue to be seen on four-wheel-drive sporting models, with the R badge set to be reserved for only the most potent of these 4WD EVS, according to Volkswagen.
Esta historia es de la edición September 06, 2023 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 06, 2023 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Poster car that went from rusty to trusty
One evening, two years ago, George Pappas was being driven down his local high street by a mate and mulling over whether to replace his Mk4 Golf diesel, a recent purchase that was boring him to death, when his girlfriend, also in the car, spotted an old BMW 3 Series at the side of the road with a 'for sale' sign in the window.
THE SEVEN-SEATER THAT VOLVO DARE NOT KILL OFF
The current-gen XC90 has been on sale since 2015 for good reason
GENESIS ELECTRIFIED G80
Where the story begins, in the Hyundai premium marque’s luxury saloon
LEXUSLBX
Can you shrink premium quality to fit an SUV this small? We now know
Rolls boss ready to 'define the next chapter'
Nine months into the job, Rolls-Royce CEO and car guy Chris Brownridge tells STEVE CROPLEY what he's learned and where the firm's heading
Once more, with feeling
AC Cars' recreation of the classic MkII Cobra is at first glance a faithful facsimile of a 1960s performance benchmark. SIMON HUCKNALL drives it
MERCEDES-BENZ CLE
Does a PHEV set-up work in a coupé that exudes such old-school vibes?
ANALOGUE SUPERSPORT
Lotus Elise specialist uprates 1990s icon with an eye on track days
ALPINE A290
The hot hatch is alive and well, and living in France. On both road and track, there's much to savour`
UK HANGS ON TO OLD CARS
Average car age climbs as high prices dampen demand for new models
