Volkswagen has confirmed its intention to take the GTI efficiency model into the all-electric age with its Munich present star, the ID. GTI Idea.

The startling purple child scorching hatch previews a sooner model of VW’s forthcoming ID.2, a Polo-sized all-electric supermini with a goal value beginning at round £22,000. The German producer has experimented with sooner EVs already, badged as GTX – however the model’s newest boss, Thomas Schäfer, is claimed to have decreed that the fairness within the extra iconic GTI badge shouldn’t be wasted simply because combustion engines are being dropped.

The ID. GTI Idea is predicated on the ID. 2all present automobile revealed again within the spring. It’s 4,104mm lengthy, so simply three centimetres longer than the Polo, however has a wheelbase of two,600mm that’s nearer to the present Golf’s. The accompanying quick overhangs and chunky 20-inch alloy wheels give the present automobile a planted stance.

Different performance-oriented styling tweaks embrace a honeycomb-effect mesh grille within the decrease portion of the entrance bumper, full with motorsport-style towing eyes, deeply scalloped facet skirts and a neatly built-in rear roof spoiler, plus an aggressive diffuser with purple highlights. The VW badge on the rear hatch can also be purple, whereas the GTI moniker options close to the entrance headlights, at the forefront of the entrance doorways, on the facet skirts and, in a bigger kind, within the centre of the tailgate. 

The automobile retains the five-door configuration of the ID. 2all, although; VW’s design crew is claimed to be lobbying arduous to maintain that automobile’s ‘hidden’ rear door handles, built-in simply forward of the C-pillars.

VW has solely issued sketches of the cabin, however they present a red-themed evolution of the ID. 2all’s inside, with a clear design dominated by a 12.9-inch infotainment display screen however however that includes bodily switches for all electrical home windows, plus the heating and air flow, heated seats and audio quantity. There are deep bucket entrance seats too, full with an LED ‘heartbeat’ that pulses to indicate individuals outdoors that the automobile is secured and locked. 

There are additionally golf ball dimple motifs on a number of the centre console parts, referencing the unique Golf GTI gearknob. The idea has a classy augmented-reality head-up show that tasks info for each driver and entrance passenger; VW says it might be used to indicate info like lap place, instances or present race standings – although this merchandise appears much less prone to make manufacturing.

There are not any motor and battery specs or efficiency knowledge for the idea but, however VW has stated that the automobile will characteristic a modified model of the present Golf GTI’s digital entrance differential. The corporate claims that it will likely be in a position to combine this method’s processes and software program into the electric-motor management unit “to a fair better extent than on the petrol fashions”.

Nevertheless, as outlined in Auto Specific’s scoop on the newborn EV GTI challenge, it’s anticipated to have at the least 220bhp and crack 0-62mph in just below seven seconds – figures which are fairly near these of the present Golf GTI.

VW’s head of design, former Bentley man Andreas Mindt, stated the idea reveals that GTI has “a terrific future”. “I already had the GTI in thoughts after I first put pen to paper for the ID. 2all,” he stated. “It’s now changing into actuality and permitting us to challenge the GTI concept into the brand new age of electrical mobility.”

The ID.2 is predicted to make its debut in 2026, though the manufacturing readiness of the newest idea would counsel that VW isn’t prone to wait lengthy earlier than providing its GTI variant. We must always count on the primary EV GTI by the tip of that 12 months, subsequently, or within the first half of 2027.

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