Volkswagen unveils its first electric GTI, the ID. Polo GTI

When Volkswagen introduced the first Golf GTI in Europe in 1976, it quickly became the gold standard for hot hatches. Small European streets and tighter car-buying budgets favored compact, fuel‑efficient vehicles, but those front‑wheel‑drive hatchbacks were rarely exciting.

The GTI changed that with a more powerful engine, sharper handling, and subtle styling tweaks — a formula that has guided the segment for decades. Today VW has shown its first electric GTI, the ID. Polo GTI, which sits one segment below the current Golf. Some of VW’s ID models have carried GTX branding until now; this is the first to wear the GTI badge.

Like the 1976 original it uses front‑wheel drive, but its electric motor produces 222 hp (166 kW), just over twice the output of the old 1.6 L engine. The ID. Polo GTI packs a 52 kWh battery with a WLTP range estimate of 236 miles (424 km). DC fast charging goes up to 105 kW, with a 10–80 percent charging time of 24 minutes.

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