Volkswagen has a long and proud history of making compact, sporty cars bearing the GTI badge. From the original Golf GTI in 1976 to the latest Polo GTI and up! GTI, these models have always delivered fun, performance, and practicality at an affordable price. But what does the future hold for the GTI brand in the age of electric mobility? Volkswagen has given us a glimpse of the answer with the Volkswagen ID.GTI Concept is a show car that previews the first all-electric GTI based on the upcoming ID.2 compact SUV.
The Volkswagen ID.GTI Concept was unveiled at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich in September 2023, exactly 48 years after the debut of the first Golf GTI at the same event. The concept car is more than just a design study, as Volkswagen has confirmed that it will go into production in Europe by 2027 and is also under consideration for the U.S. market. The ID.GTI Concept is based on the Volkswagen ID.2all concept that was revealed earlier this year, which is set to be Volkswagen’s entry-level EV in Europe, priced at around $29,500. The Volkswagen ID.2all uses a new version of Volkswagen’s modular electric platform (MEB), called MEB Entry, which is smaller and simpler than the MEB used by the Volkswagen ID.3 and Volkswagen ID.4 models.
The Volkswagen ID.GTI shares the same basic bodywork as the ID.2all, but with some distinctive features that make it stand out as a GTI. The front end features a large honeycomb grille with a red stripe and a GTI logo, flanked by slim LED headlights with X-shaped daytime running lights. The lower bumper has large air intakes and a black splitter, while the hood has small tabs that extend over the grille, creating an overbite effect. The side profile shows off the sporty proportions of the concept car, with a sloping roofline, muscular wheel arches, and a sharp character line that runs from the hood to the rear fender. The concept car rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers and low-profile tires. The rear end features a roof spoiler, a full-width LED light bar, a black diffuser, and dual exhaust tips.
