Volkswagen's first electric ID GTI will be 'a real go kart' to drive

According to Grunitz, Volkswagen’s first electric GTI will be “a real go kart” to drive. He’s already driven a prototype, claiming, “It’s really amazing.”

You can see the concept pulls design features from VW’s classic GTI models. However, the company promises new tech will enable even more control and handling for that “go kart” like feel.

47 comments

If it makes it to the US market, I'm in. That thing looks exactly like what I've been waiting for.
- An ID GTI and a clapped out off-roader are probably my perfect 2 car solution right now.
- Same. I've been holding out hope this doesn't suck since they teased the concept. Will be my 4th GTI if so. Love the things. They're the perfect daily driver.
  
  Which generations have you had? I owned a Mk6 before I bought my Mk7 R. Great cars.
- Earlier golf e made it to Canada, with a nice 30% premium on top of the exchange rate
  I loved my first golf but VW service was hot garbage. I am not sure they can lure me back, definitely not with the markups here
Would love an electric hatch back. Wish they'd bring more of them to the US.
- Leaf and Bolt are about it. There are bigger hatchback vehicles like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq5, but they are more SUV like. There was an electric VW Golf and a Mitsubishi, but they had really limited range. I am definitely the target market for the electric GTI - I have owned two Leafs and have purchased both of them even though I preferred the gas GTI driving experience more.
- Ioniq 5?
  
  The Ioniq 5 looks nice, but usually hatchback isn't referring to a crossover SUV sized vehicle so much as a VW Golf sized vehicle.
  
  I literally wouldn't be able to open my doors in my garage. Ioniq too fat.
Why call it a GTI when there's no "I"?
- Same as the Taycan Turbo. All just marketing these days.
- Second link goes here where they elaborate a bit: https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/the-new-id-gti-concept-world-premiere-17587
  GTI is a trademark for VW with some heritage. It carries some implications for potential buyers. Like Design elements, emotion, handling capabilities and reasonable pricing for a sportscar-like vehicle.
  
  Thanks!
  the letter “I” for injection in the GTI name now also stands for intelligence
  Saved you a click.
  
  In the same breath, I believe Ford owns the rights to GT which could make variants hard
Much want
Should have been called the GTEV or GTV (since the T already has the E sound in it)
- Or just GT, since thats the two letters they also use for their diesels (GTD) and plug in hybrids (GTE).
  They could have also gone with GTID, still GTI, but also ID, their EV brand.
It makes noises like older GTIs?! I’ll take two!
- You mean the creaky door hinges and the vibrating sun visors?
  
  Oh shit my mk4 golf does both of those. I didn't realize they were common problems
- Why would you want it to be noisy? I get that noise was cool when that older technology was new, and I get the nostalgia, but try silent before you head to the past. It just seems so much more modern and so much more powerful, the silent acceleration just makes it feel effortless.
  I get the amazing tech of those older cars. I get the heat, the hundreds of moving parts, the alloys, the precision, it’s just amazing. Like steampunk. Appreciate it as the museum piece that it is or go geek out over it but go silent but deadly
  
  Not sure why you're getting downvoted. EVs' reduction in noise pollution are second only to their reduction in atmospheric pollution. I love quiet vehicles.
  
  For the same reason the last car I bought has a manual transmission: It's fun.
Starting at 27,000 dollars though. I wish more effort was put into dropping the price as low as possible. The industry knows that a cheap car would sell huge volumes, but with CAFE, small cars are not where the profit is.
- 27,000 would be among the cheapest new cars available. We've come a long way from when EVs cost more than ICE models.
  
  Yes, though my comment was more pointed to how the CAFE regulations incentivize auto manufacturers to create larger vehicles for the higher profits. If the US didn't start leaning towards trucks and SUVs back then and instead kept innovating what cars could be, the competition in the compact car space would have driven prices further down.
  The fact that 27k is considered among the cheapest new cars is partially a result of automakers discontinuing their cars in favour of larger vehicles with juicier profits.
- Batteries and electric motors are still pretty expensive to manufacture. I don't think a budget EV would be available until a new, cheaper battery tech comes out.
  
  You're right they are expensive components, though I'd point out the battery tends to be the cost leader of the drive train by a significant margin. The motors are increasing over time, but not enough to surpass the battery.
  
  With this in mind, the average electric car has range of 200 miles, with the most popular model pushing beyond 300. The battery could easily be cut in half in order to lower the vehicle cost.
  Don't get me wrong, I know half the battery doesn't mean the car would be half the price, but it would be a good chunk. And in today's market, every dollar saved matters.
Does it stull spy on you like none else?
- Can we have an e-car with manual controls and no tracking please?
  "No, it's the consumer's fault for dragging their heels."

47 comments