The Volkswagen ID.3 Is the Second EV to Wear the GTI Badge, and It’s the Most Powerful GTI EverCar and DriverAlayna WilkeningWed, September 16, 2026 at 6:48 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe ID.3 GTI Is Volkswagen's Most Powerful GTI YetVolkswagenVolkswagen revealed its most powerful GTI yet, with the ID.3 GTI making 322 horsepower and a whopping 402 pound-feet of torque.The rear-wheel-drive hot hatch has a top speed of 124 mph and reaches 62 mph in a claimed 5.6 seconds.The ID.3 GTI will go on sale in early 2027, but you'll have to move to Europe to get one.Volkswagen's GTI badge is gracing an electric car once again, and this time, it's found a home on the ID.3. Based on the ID.3 Neo, the ID.3 GTI brings more torque and sportier styling to the practical hatchback.VolkswagenThis isn't the first sporty sibling to the ID.3, however. The electric hatchback, first introduced in 2020, added a performance-based GTX variant in 2024. The release of the ID.3 GTI effectively retires the GTX line and replaces it with a much more powerful option.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn fact, it's become the most powerful vehicle to ever wear the GTI badge. An electric motor mounted on the rear axle produces 322 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque. VW says the maximum torque is the true selling point of the GTI's driving experience. The ID.3 GTI can reach 62 mph in 5.6 seconds, which is more than a second faster than the ID. Polo GTI that VW released in Europe earlier this year, and a smidge faster than the gas-powered Golf GTI we tested in 2025. VW electronically limits the ID.3 GTI's top speed to 124 mph.VolkswagenThe ID.3 visually fits right in with the GTI design language. A sweeping light bar and illuminated VW badge between the slender headlights hint at its electric powertrain, and thin, vertical lights at the outer edges of the bumper create a slimming effect. Two red, vertical stripes mimic tow hooks and break up the black grille along the bottom of the front fascia.Around back, the car gets a blacked-out VW emblem and GTI lettering with slim taillights extending toward the middle of the trunk. A body-colored roof spoiler completes the classic hot hatch look. The ID.3 GTI rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with unique trapezoidal details, and as with all other GTIs, the ID.3 GTI will come in silver, black, red, and white. New for this model, however, is the introduction of Moonstone Grey.VolkswagenIt'll be impossible to forget you're driving a GTI from the inside, as red detailing and GTI badging appear on nearly every surface and pair with a new spin on the GTI's classic tartan seats. A GTI button on the steering wheel toggles the car into GTI mode, which VW says is the "secret sauce" of the vehicle. GTI mode instantly puts the car in the sportiest settings possible, and combined with Launch Control, which comes standard on all ID.3 GTIs, the car can be seamlessly set up for some serious fun. In addition to GTI mode, it also features Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual modes.VolkswagenThe newest GTI member can travel up to 373 miles between charges by Europe's WLTP metric, which roughly translates to about 320 miles by the EPA's testing methodology. That range is thanks to a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 79 kWh. DC fast charging can bring the car from 10 to 80 percent in around 29 minutes.AdvertisementAdvertisementPresales for the ID.3 GTI begin in Europe early next year, but like the original ID.3, its GTI sibling won't be sold stateside. Pricing hasn't been released yet, but considering the ID.3 GTX's starting cost was about the equivalent of $50,000, we'd estimate the more powerful GTI will sell for quite a bit more.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029