Volkswagen Marks 50 Years of GTI With Electric ID.3 GTI, the Most Powerful to Bare the Name Ever

• ID.3 GTI produces 322 hp and 402 lb-ft through a rear-mounted electric motor.

• Volkswagen claims up to 601 km (WLTP) of range from the 79-kWh usable battery.

• Pre-sales begin in early 2027 – no need to ask about North America.

Volkswagen is taking its legendary GTI performance badge into the battery-electric era with the production ID.3 GTI, a rear-wheel-drive compact hatchback that will move like no other of its kind.

The model lands in the heart of the 50th anniversary year of the GTI and becomes the highest-output series-production GTI Volkswagen has ever built. Its rear-mounted electric motor develops 322 hp (240 kW or 326 PS) and 402 lb-ft (545 Nm) of torque, enabling a claimed 0-to-100-km/h time of only 5.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically restricted to 200 km/h.

It draws power from a 79-kWh lithium-ion battery. Volkswagen lists driving range at up to 601 km (assumedly WLTP) or about 529 km EPA. DC fast charging peaks at 183 kW, with a claimed 10-to-80% charging time of approximately 29 minutes.

Volkswagen has also equipped the ID.3 GTI with the necessary hardware that will make it a true GTI, beyond power, that is. Adaptive DCC sports suspension and progressive steering are standard, along with Launch Control. A dedicated GTI drive mode adjusts the powertrain, steering and suspension settings.

The exterior carries several references to earlier GTI models. A red stripe spans the front grille linking the headlights, recalling the grille treatment introduced with the original Golf GTI in 1976. The car also receives a black honeycomb lower grille, red bumper accents and standard 20-inch Wörthersee alloy wheels.

Five exterior colours are planned: Tornado Red, Moonstone Grey, Scale Silver metallic, Grenadilla Black metallic and Glacier White metallic. Most will be familiar with Tornado Red as it is another link to earlier GTI generations.

Inside, Volkswagen uses red stitching and a modern interpretation of the traditional GTI tartan upholstery. The sports steering wheel carries a red 12-o’clock marker and a dedicated illuminated button for activating GTI mode. A 12.9-inch infotainment display complements the large digital instrument cluster.

Available equipment should include a panoramic roof, augmented-reality head-up display, Harman Kardon audio system and premium seats with massage and memory functions. Vehicle-to-load capability will enable charging of external electrical devices, including e-bike batteries and other such accessories.

Volkswagen says pre-sales will begin in early 2027 in various global markets, excluding North America.