- The upcoming VW ID GTI mannequin could have lower than 300 hp (in all probability nearer to 200 hp) and supply go-kart dealing with.
- It is constructed on a brand new FWD model of the VW MEB platform designed for extra reasonably priced fashions.
- It ought to enter manufacturing in 2026 and there is a robust probability it’s going to come to the US.
Volkswagen has had its ups and downs because it figures out what an electrical future might seem like. However one shiny spot has been the concept that the GTI badge is coming to an electrical car for the primary time. Now, VW’s technical chief reaffirmed that that automotive—a GTI model of the upcoming ID.2—needs to be coming in 2026, and it’ll preserve the give attention to dealing with enjoyable.
In line with a current report printed by Autocar, it’s going to have lower than 300 horsepower, however will probably be very enjoyable to drive. The report quotes Kai Grünitz, who’s a VW board member accountable for technical improvement, and who to begin with confirmed that the GTI badge will reside on into the age of electrical automobiles.
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Grünit stated, “GTI is alive and we’ll preserve it alive sooner or later. The GTI badge is about ardour, and once we began concepts for an electrical GTI, we knew it’s about extra than simply energy.” Volkswagen has up to now used GTX branding to outline its extra highly effective electrical choices, just like the ID.5 GTX. Nonetheless, GTI shall be used alongside it sooner or later—GTX could also be used for all-wheel drive automobiles whereas GTI could be reserved for sporty front-wheel drive fashions like the upcoming scorching ID 2.
It is price noting that this GTI is not fairly just like the GTI most Individuals know.
That automotive relies on the Volkswagen Golf, which is getting an electrical model, however one which has been delayed to 2029 as he automaker figures out its software program and technical challenges. As a substitute, this ID.2-based GTI is smaller, extra like a Volkswagen Polo in different markets (and has additionally had its GTI variants through the years.) Because it’s smaller than U.S. consumers are used to, it has been unclear whether or not this one will make it to American sellers.
As a substitute of the ID.Golf’s future-facing platform, the ID.2 shall be constructed on a extra reasonably priced front-wheel-drive model of the MEB platform, which is able to underpin different smaller electrical VWs. That is just like what Kia is doing with the lite model of its E-GMP platform, which ditches 800 volts and rear-wheel drive within the quest to chop prices and make its smaller EVs extra reasonably priced.
In case you’ve pushed any of the present VW ID fashions, they’re competent and drive nice, however the driving expertise isn’t essentially the most enjoyable, even with energy going to the rear wheels. Their security techniques don’t enable any slip on the again, in order that they at all times really feel glued to the street, and flooring it when popping out of a nook received’t make the rear step out.
So possibly going front-wheel drive and permitting for a bit extra motion within the entrance is the way in which to go. Grünitz defined that you simply don’t want a whole lot of energy to make an EV enjoyable. He stated, “With an electrical automotive, including a whole lot of energy is very easy, however do we’d like 300bhp or 350bhp? With a GTI, what’s extra necessary than energy is drivability. Will probably be an actual go-kart. I’ve pushed a prototype and it’s actually wonderful.”
That sounds very encouraging, particularly since one of the vital enjoyable reasonably priced electrical automobiles is the Mini Cooper SE, which lets you flip off the traction and stability aids and simply do smoky FWD burnouts on a regular basis. With all of the nannies off, driving the Cooper SE spiritedly round a twisty street is likely one of the greatest instances you’ll ever have behind the wheel of an EV at any worth, and it has lower than 200 hp.
Mini prides itself on providing a go-kart-like driving expertise in its automobiles, together with its EVs. The mixture of stiff suspension, which can make the automotive really feel a bit bouncy over some uneven street surfaces, and really sharp and delicate steering is what makes the driving expertise really feel go-kart-esque, so VW might be drawing inspiration from that for its ID 2 GTI.
We all know it’s potential to have enjoyable in a comparatively low-powered front-wheel-drive EV, and the VW exec appears very assured that the upcoming GTI will ship on the enjoyable entrance, so we’re desirous to strive it. And when you had been questioning if the electrical GTI is coming to the U.S., we requested VW about it, and it seems like individuals inside the firm are pushing arduous to make that occur.
