- Volkswagen is planning a number of GTI-badged sizzling EVs.
- These vehicles had been described as “mind-blowing” and “monsters” by VW CEO Thomas Schäfer.
- The primary electrical VW GTI might arrive in 2026.
We’ve recognized about Volkswagen’s plan to make fun-to-drive electrical GTI sizzling hatches, however it appears the producer’s plan extends past making sizzling variants of the ID.2 (Polo equal) and next-gen electrical Golf. And they need to keep largely front-wheel-drive.
As Alpine has proven with the A290the spiced-up model of the Renault 5, you can make an pleasant front-wheel-drive EV. So we’re desirous to see what VW is cooking up.
VW CEO Thomas Schäfer instructed Autocar that the carmaker is making ready “a complete group of GTI” fashions that will likely be “mind-blowing.” He has already pushed a prototype GTI EVwhich he known as “a monster automotive,” which aligns with what one other VW exec stated about his prototype expertise, who described the automotive as “an actual go-kart.”
Volkswagen ID. GTI Idea (2023)
Nevertheless, none of those electrical GTIs could have an excessive amount of energyseemingly beneath 300 hp (in all probability nearer to 250 hp), however that shouldn’t have an effect on them an excessive amount of. One of the crucial enjoyable EVs ever is the first-generation electrical Mini Cooper, which had simply 180 hp however was an absolute hoot to throw round. Now, the Alpina A290 is the brand new electrical sizzling hatch child on the block, and it does rather a lot with simply 220 hp.
When giving a front-wheel-drive automotive a variety of energy, you threat overpowering the entrance tires, which have rather a lot to cope with: placing the facility down, steering and braking. You may as well get extreme torque steer in highly effective FWD vehicles, and VW, being a smart producer of individuals’s vehicles at coronary heart, will seemingly not go overboard with energy.
The actual information right here is that VW has plans for extra than simply two GTI-badged EVs. We don’t know what they could possibly be because the GTI moniker has been solely used on the tailgate of hatchbacks, however possibly the producer will now increase its use to fashions with different physique types.
All GTIs have been front-wheel-drive vehicles, and it will likely be fascinating to see if VW makes rear-wheel-drive ones too. We all know the manufacturing model of the ID.2 (and its GTI spinoff) will likely be constructed on the lite model of the MEB platform, which is solely front-wheel drive. Nevertheless, the electrical Golfwhich is predicted to reach across the finish of the last decade, will likely be constructed on the SSP structure, which replaces the rear-wheel-drive MEB utilized in VW’s present crop of ID fashions.
Identical to MEB, SSP is extremely modular and can be utilized in a variety of autos, and it’s additionally easier and cheaper for the producer. It’s additionally meant to interchange the bigger PPE structure used to underpin fashions like the brand new Porsche Macan house and the Audi Q6 e-tronso it’s going to seemingly be rear-wheel drive. VW might make a front-wheel-drive-lite model of SSP down the road, however there’s no details about it but.
Subsequent 12 months, VW ought to debut the manufacturing model of the ID.2 idea, which gained’t have “ID” in its title. We don’t know if the GTI will likely be revealed alongside, however the timing would make sense since 2026 is the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the unique Golf GTI.
The electrical Golf is predicted round 2029, when it’s going to change the ID.3, which is able to obtain a significant overhaul (to offer it extra of a standard VW design) and sure stay in manufacturing till 2028.
