Major car brand ‘to launch EV version' of popular model next year – and it will be faster than its flagship vehicle
Set to go electric — and it could leave the current top model behind
HOT HATCH Major car brand 'to launch EV version' of popular model next year – and it will be faster than its flagship vehicle
A MAJOR car brand is set to launch an electric version of one of its most popular models next year – and it's tipped to be even faster than the current flagship.
Volkswagen is reportedly preparing to unveil an electric GTI hot hatch, based on its ID.3 model, with a launch expected in 2026, according to Motor1.com.
5
The new ID.3 GTI will carry the legendary GTI badge
Credit: Getty
5
The ID.3 GTI will deliver around 335hp, that's 13hp more than the current GTX model
Credit: Supplied
5
This electric version will reportedly be rear-wheel drive
Credit: Photo by Paddy McGrath
This comes after the German manufacturer first stepped into the electric hot hatch space last year with the ID.3 GTX.
The new ID.3 GTI will carry the legendary GTI badge, though it won't have the fuel injectors that gave the original its name.
And unlike traditional GTIs, which have front-wheel drive, this electric version will reportedly be rear-wheel drive.
According to Auto Motor and Sport, the ID.3 GTI will deliver around 335hp, that's 13hp more than the current GTX model.
VW is also said to be working on major upgrades to the chassis, steering, and suspension to give drivers a more exciting and responsive experience behind the wheel.
Interestingly, the electric GTI wasn't part of Volkswagen's original plan.
But with delays to the next-generation electric Golf, now expected near the end of the decade, the carmaker is opting for a second facelift of the ID.3 to extend its life on the market.
This update is set to bring the ID.3's design and technology closer to the upcoming ID.2 range.
The ID.3 first launched in 2019 and saw a refresh in 2023.
Inside the Volkswagen ID
With the latest facelift, expected in 2026, the ID.3 GTI will take centre stage as VW's new electric performance star.
VW has already shown off the ID. GTI concept, which previews the company's first electric car to wear the iconic badge.
However, the larger ID.3 GTI now looks likely to beat it to showrooms.
Pricing details are still under wraps, but in Germany, the current ID.3 GTX starts at just over €47,000, while the upcoming ID.2 will launch from around €25,000.
Naturally, the GTI versions will carry a premium.
Several other VW electric models have already received the GTX badge, including the ID.7 saloon, ID.7 Tourer estate, and even the ID.Buzz GTX minivan.
It's still unclear whether Volkswagen plans to eventually replace GTX with the more recognisable GTI name across its electric range.
There's also speculation that an electric R-badged model could follow.
And with rumours that VW may redesign the GTI logo to feature a lightning bolt in place of the 'I,' the brand's electric future is certainly shaping up to be electrifying.
5
Interestingly, the electric GTI wasn't part of Volkswagen's original plan
Credit: Volkswagen AG
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Express
9 hours ago
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Classy seven-seat Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace for only £227 per month
Practical seven-seat family SUV Good amount of standard kit £227 per month with £3,083 initial payment The recently launched Tayron has taken over the role as Volkswagen's seven-seat SUV, which means the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is now retired and available for great prices through the Auto Express Find a Car service – such as this deal we found for the comfortable family car at only £227 per month. The three-year lease term being offered by Leasing Options through Auto Express is for a well-equipped Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace in Life trim. It requires an initial outlay of £3,083, followed by monthly payments of £227, and includes a standard allowance of 5,000 miles per year. Advertisement - Article continues below Standard kit includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, a 10.25-inch 'Digital Cockpit' driver's display, eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and a smattering of other driver assistance features. Of course, with a car like this, space and practicality are the biggest selling points. The Tiguan Allspace offers three rows of seats, with those at the very back offering enough room for small children, and two sets of Isofix mounting points on the middle row. If you don't have that many people to ferry around, folding those rearmost seats gives you a massive 700 litres of boot space to play with. The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is smooth, quiet and produces 148bhp, which is more than capable of handling the school run or weekend shopping trips. It can also deliver solid fuel economy – over 42mpg, according to VW – and tow up to two tonnes. It's paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find a Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car retailers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace leasing offers from leading providers on our Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace deals hub page… Check out the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Deal of the Day or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts New Kia Sportage breaks cover and it's sleeker than ever New Kia Sportage breaks cover and it's sleeker than ever Full specification and details have been announced for the UK version of Kia's big-selling mid-size SUV Car Deal of the Day: get a big Nissan Qashqai for less than a little Nissan Juke Car Deal of the Day: get a big Nissan Qashqai for less than a little Nissan Juke The Nissan Qashqai is a top choice among Brits, and it's easy to see why with offers like this. It's our Deal of the Day for 4 June Nissan Qashqai alternatives: cars you could buy instead of Nissan's big-selling SUV Nissan Qashqai alternatives: cars you could buy instead of Nissan's big-selling SUV The Nissan Qashqai has been a hit since the first generation launched in 2006, but if it's not quite your cup of tea, we've rounded up the best of the… Best cars & vans 3 Jun 2025
Auto Blog
a day ago
- Auto Blog
Subaru Just Dropped a Teaser for a Sporty New Model – Could it Be the STI Successor?
Subaru is working on something sporty and spicy, but what could it be? Is Subaru's legendary rally-derived sport sedan finally set to return? Subaru's iconic rally-derived sport sedan, the WRX STI, has been absent from the market since 2021. Although its slightly less potent sibling, the WRX, is still available for purchase from your local Subaru dealer, Subaru loyalists have long been awaiting any sort of news about an upcoming replacement for the hotter, Subaru Technica International-developed model. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:09 / 0:09 Nissan's revolutionary self-driving tech hits Japan's streets Watch More That lengthy wait may almost be over, according to Motor1, which reports that, 'During a media session surrounding the Super Taikyu series at Fuji Speedway, Subaru Executive Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer, Tetsuro Fujinuki, confirmed a new performance model for this year's Japan Mobility Show.' Although no official details have been announced yet, we can expect to learn more come October when the 2025 Japan Mobility Show begins. For the time being, however, we're left wondering what exactly Subaru might have up its sleeve. Subaru WRX Teaser — Source: Subaru What can we learn from Subaru's teaser? When looking at Subaru's teaser image, it seems pretty clear that whatever Subaru is planning on unveiling in November, it'll be heavily based on the current VB-generation WRX, as made evident by its distinct forward fascia, C-shaped LED headlights, and, of course, its signature hood scoop. Notable differences that set this teaser apart from the standard WRX are its aggressive front bumper splitter, its widened wheel arches, and perhaps most curiously, the blurred rear end. What's most intriguing about the rear of the car's roof is the obvious tailgate hinges, which might suggest that a hatchback variant of the Subaru WRX STI might return after a long hiatus–something that many Subaru and hot hatch fans alike will be extremely excited about. Despite the hatchback hints, the image also seems to suggest a large spoiler could be present on the rear. Keep in mind that this is pure speculation, but it seems like the details on the rear of the vehicle in the image might suggest that both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback variants of the WRX STI could be made available. Only time will tell, but we remain extremely hopeful that the beloved WRX STI Hatchback makes a glorious return. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. What could a new Subaru WRX STI look like? Subaru WRX STI Coupe — Source: AI Generated Image Using generative text-to-image artificial intelligence and Adobe Photoshop, we imagine what a tarted-up, STI-branded variant of the VB-generation Subaru WRX could look like. Although the render pictured above depicts a two-door coupe body reminiscent of the iconic Subaru Impreza 22B STI, an actual WRX STI would likely retain all four of its doors, or perhaps gain a fifth door in hatchback guise. Despite its coupe appearance, the above render gives us a glimpse at possible styling alterations for the STI model, such as facelifted headlights for a more aggressive look, larger grilles for increased cooling airflow, wider wheel arches with contrast painted overfenders, and, of course, an extra aggressive rear spoiler for enhanced aerodynamics. Final thoughts Although not many details have been officially confirmed yet, we're eagerly awaiting more information to be revealed in October of this year. We'd love to see a hatchback return to Subaru's iconic WRX lineup, so hopefully the tailgate hinges on the teaser image turning out to be a clue and not just meaningless speculation. Regardless, we're glad to see Subaru working on something sporty and exciting rather than yet another crossover. Now, if only Mitsubishi would get the hint… About the Author Cole Attisha View Profile
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Auto Blog
Rare Earth Magnet Shortage Threatens Shutdown of U.S. Car Factories
The United States and countries around the world are sounding the alarm on shortages of magnets from China critical to vehicle production. Automakers worldwide are on the verge of a supply crisis Auto executives across the globe have raised urgent concerns that an impending shortage of rare earth magnets from China used in an extensive number of car parts threatens to upend vehicle production in weeks. Earlier this month, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing Volkswagen, Hyundai, and General Motors, expressed unease regarding the impending shortage in a letter to President Trump. The letter listed automatic transmissions, throttle bodies, alternators, various motors, sensors, seat belts, speakers, lights, power steering, and cameras as among the many components affected by a rare earth magnet supply shortage, Reuters reports. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation and The Vehicle Suppliers Association cited reduced production volumes and complete shutdowns of assembly lines as severe outcomes of the scarcity. Annealed neodymium iron boron magnets — Source: Getty United States claims China is dragging its feet with minerals The Chinese government halted exports of rare earth magnets on April 4 during its trade war with the United States, but American officials anticipated China's mid-May trade war truce with the United States would reopen rare earth magnet access. However, United States trade representative Jamieson Greer said Friday that American officials: 'haven't seen the flow of some of those critical minerals, like they're [China] supposed to be doing,' according to The New York Times. China's embassy in Washington responded, saying the United States was abusing export controls in the semiconductor sector. An American official familiar with the United States and China's trade talks earlier this month in Geneva said discussions didn't involve export controls, Reuters reports. This same official claimed Beijing was moving slowly on promises to resume rare earth export licenses. India also hasn't received the licenses, putting the country on pace to pause auto production in early June. Europe has received some license approvals, but its Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Jens Eskelund, said the amount is insufficient. A rare earth mineral shortage would most impact United States automakers, and a separate New York Times report notes that some Chinese rare earth magnet makers have stopped production while waiting for permission to resume exports. China controls over 90% of global processing capacity for the magnets used in industries like auto manufacturing, fighter jet production, and home appliances, according to Reuters. The United States makes essentially no high-performance rare earth magnets, but small factories are scheduled to begin production this year in South Carolina and Texas. One operational mine in Oklahoma relies on China for processing. Small sales and profit margins have reduced many countries' desire to produce the magnets, with worldwide sales being a small fraction of larger industries like copper mining. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Ford F-150 assembly line — Source: Getty Images Final thoughts While the United States auto industry will be most affected by a rare earth magnet shortage, the issue is global. To make matters worse, permit applications to China can require hundreds of pages of documents. German auto parts manufacturer Bosch said its suppliers are experiencing difficulty dealing with China's export license procedures. Despite receiving some licenses, Europe is still facing significant supply chain disruptions, and India could halt all auto production early this month. In response, the European Union is fast-tracking its mining and mineral initiatives to reduce its dependency on China.
