GT aye aye aye
Volkswagen has revealed a new concept car on the eve of the Munich motor show named the ID. GTI, previewing how an electric hot hatch could look. It’s based on another concept car, the VW ID. 2all, which was unveiled earlier this year. It’s around the size of a Volkswagen Polo and is much more conventional-looking than the brand’s current range of ID models.
Measuring 4.1 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, the ID. GTI has plenty of presence thanks to the use of 20-inch alloy wheels. While the electric concept doesn’t technically need a radiator grille up front, Volkswagen’s designers have retained a red stripe — a signature of all GTI models. A light bar spans the entire width, linking the matrix LED headlights.
High-performance cues throughout
Vertical LED daytime running lights within the front bumper emphasise the car’s width and form part of the air curtain element channelling air through the bodywork and across the front wheels. A larger air intake across the bottom of the car features a honeycomb structure, something that Volkswagen has integrated into GTIs since the Mk5 generation of the Golf. Two red towing eyes hint at the trackday-ready nature of the concept.
A substantial roof spoiler at the back is similar to the one used on the current Golf GTI Clubsport, with an open section at the roof apart from a small support rib in the middle. This design generates downforce while minimising air turbulence. A narrow third brake light beneath the spoiler runs the full width of the car. Impressively, the ID. GTI is a practical car thanks to a 490-litre boot capacity and hidden extra storage under the rear seats.
GTI cues for the futuristic cabin
The rest of the interior is futuristic GTI stuff, as the ‘I’ in the name now stands for Intelligence rather than Injection. A fresh twist on the sports seats includes a reinterpretation of the tartan upholstery called Jack-e rather than Jacky and the driver’s seat has a red pulsating element called the GTI heartbeat that signals when the car is locked and secured.
Ahead of the driver is a flattened steering wheel with red stitching and an illuminated 12 o’clock marker. While the 10.9-inch digital instrumentation is pretty standard these days, the augmented head-up display that projects onto the entire windscreen for both driver and passenger to see certainly is not. Details such as track position, speed and lap times can all be displayed as part of the GTI mode.
There is also a 12.9-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard for the usual infotainment functions, while air conditioning controls are in a separate illuminated section underneath. Two wireless charging pads are on the centre console ahead of a rotary Experience Controller that is used to switch between different driving modes. It has a dimpled surface like a golf ball, as a tribute to the original Golf GTI gear shifters that carried the same design. The drive selector is on a column stalk as in some of VW’s other EVs.
CEO of Volkswagen, Thomas Schäfer described the new concept as “the perfect combination of driving pleasure and everyday usability – that is what the three letters GTI have meant for decades.”
He went on to say: “with the ID. GTI Concept, we are transporting the GTI DNA into the electric age. It remains sporty, iconic, technologically progressive and accessible, but now has a new interpretation for tomorrow’s world: electric, fully connected and extremely emotive. Here, driving pleasure and sustainability are a perfect match. This means GTI has a future – for our brand and for the fans. Production has already been decided as part of our electric offensive. A Volkswagen sports car for the electric age that is suitable for everyday driving: 100 per cent electric – 100 per cent emotion.”
Although Volkswagen has hinted that the ID. GTI is likely to go into production, it hasn’t released any performance figures for the ID. GTI, though it is known that it is built on the company’s new small electric car platform designed for front-wheel drive. It’s expected that the ID. 2all will evolve into the ID.2 hatchback ahead of 2025 sales and that a GTI variant will follow soon after.
- If you found the Volkswagen ID. GTI concept car interesting, you might want to check out our review of the VW ID.5
- Keen to go electric? Here are the top 10 longest-range electric cars
- And don’t miss our review of the divisive BMW iX
Keyword: Volkswagen ID. GTI concept previews fast version of forthcoming ID.2 electric car