The Volkswagen ID GTI Concept: Prioritizing Fun and Drivability Over Power

Volkswagen’s technical boss said the ID GTI won’t solely focus on outright speed or power

The Volkswagen ID GTI concept, set to go into production in 2026, will prioritize “go-kart” handling and fun over raw power, according to the firm’s technical chief. This sporty variant of the upcoming ID 2all will be the first electric Volkswagen to bear the GTI badge.

While performance versions of the current electric ID lineup have been labeled as GTX, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed last year that the iconic GTI badge would make its electric debut in the future, following in the footsteps of the Golf.

During the recent GTI Fan Fest event in Wolfsburg, Volkswagen’s technical boss Kai Grünitz hinted that the ID GTI wouldn’t solely focus on acceleration and power, which are easily achieved with an electric powertrain. Grünitz stated, “The GTI badge is about passion, and when we started looking at ideas for an electric GTI, we knew it’s about more than just power.”

Emphasizing the importance of drivability, Grünitz added, “With an electric car, adding a lot of power is really easy, but do we need 300bhp or 350bhp? With a GTI, what’s more important than power is drivability. It will be a real go-kart. I’ve driven a prototype, and it’s truly amazing.”

The production version of the ID GTI will be based on the entry-level variant of the MEB platform, which will also underpin models from Cupra and Skoda. The concept showcases several traditional GTI design cues and serves as a preview for the next-generation fully electric Golf, slated for release around 2027 on the advanced SSP platform developed by the Volkswagen Group.

Speaking about the upcoming Golf, Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt assured enthusiasts that the new model would stay true to its roots. Mindt stated, “We started with the design, and we promise that when you see the first sketches, you’ll see that this is a real Golf. It will be the authentic face of a Golf.”