Latest news with #electricGTI
Top Gear
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
VW boss: electric ID.2 GTI is "a monster", e-Golf GTI here by 2030
Hot Hatch "I think we're going to surprise you with this car," said boss Thomas Schaeffer Skip 12 photos in the image carousel and continue reading The hotly anticipated electric GTI is the car VW boss has dubbed 'a monster". Speaking to Schaeffer confirmed the ID.2 GTI will kick off the next GTI generation with proper fizz. 'I think we're going to surprise you with this car. [It'll be a] journey. We'll start the whole group of GTI that we bring through with ID.2 GTI.' The GTI isn't planned until next year and details are sparse, though we know a Golf will follow at the end of the decade. Advertisement - Page continues below We also already knew the boss and a few other execs had driven prototypes, and the thing pretty much exists - at least, virtually. 'Oh yeah, we have the designs already ready [virtually]. We know what the vehicle looks like, the dimensions of the platform and the vehicle are clear.' Along with a shiny new platform, Schaefer confirmed LFP batteries will replace the lithium-ion NMC batteries currently in use. While LFP chemistry isn't as energy-dense, it is considered safer. You might like The fact they're locally produced batteries - manufactured at VW's gigafactories in Salzgitter, Austria and St Thomas, Canada – helps the brand avoid additional taxes imposed by rules-of-origin regulations. Elsewhere, Schaefer is also positive about the new 'software-derived' setups of the future. 'The next-generation [software], and the speed you can update the cars is totally different to the old architectures," he said. Advertisement - Page continues below 'The traditional way of how we used to set up a car with hundreds of individual control units developed by [many] individual companies, that connected a little bit like European Union – everybody speaks different languages, so to change anything, or connect every aspect was literally impossible. The effort to keep it error-free in the classic setup was unbelievably greater than the new way, which is so much simpler, and so much easier to programme.' Dodgy digital interfaces and electronic architecture aside, Schaefer didn't sugar-coat the business challenges VW's faced over the last couple of years. Before Christmas last year, thousands of German workers went on strike against planned factory closures and massive layoffs – a first in its 87-year-history, but the boss proudly cited a figure of 13 per cent cost reduction made since the start of the year he attributes to hard work and working together. GTI or no GTI, the fight isn't done yet, mind. 'Super tough targets for this year and next year in the factory…are we where we want to be yet? Not yet, but I'm quite hopeful that with what we set up, we'll get there.' Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Auto Blog
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
VW CEO: All-Electric GTI Will Be a 'Monster Car'
With electrification on its side, the OG hot hatch gets even more sizzle Some cars seem destined to be better with electrification. Mini, for example, should've been a slam dunk. The same goes for most of the Fiat lineup. Whether or not those brands have lived up to expectations, of course, is another conversation. Volkswagen's iconic Golf GTI has a lot of the same traits: small, practical, and quick. For over 45 years, it's been the poster child for accessible enthusiast rides in the VW portfolio, and the company doesn't plan on blowing it. At least, not if its CEO is to be believed. VW ID GTI Concept VW ID GTI Concept VW ID GTI Concept VW's CEO has driven a 'mind-blowing' electric Golf GTI prototype In conversations originally cited by Autocar, VW CEO Thomas Schäfer discussed some of the finer points of the upcoming, all-electric GTI. He's under the impression that an electric Golf can 'absolutely' still be exciting. How can he be so sure? 'We have driven a few prototypes that we have built on the new setup…it is mind-blowing.' He goes on to say that VW is paying special attention to how the car feels, sounds, and handles. He claims that, based on the prototypes, the EV GTI will be 'a monster car.' Last year, we got our first glimpse at what exactly an EV GTI might look like. VW executive Kai Grünitz's comments rang a bit more modest relative to Schäfer's more recent ones. 'Do we need 300 or 350 bhp? With a GTI, what's more important than power is drivability,' he said in 2024 at GTI Fan Fest in Wolfsburg. 'It will be a real go-kart. I've driven a prototype and it's really amazing.' The current gas-powered GTI makes 240 horsepower (236 bhp), and while a 280-something horsepower GTI still sounds like a ton of fun, it's probably not what most drivers would call a 'monster.' But who knows, VW may have changed its tune (literally and figuratively) in the 10 months since Grünitz's comments. The GTI badge is spreading, according to Schäfer Shreds of hope for the EV GTI weren't the only clues Schäfer dropped regarding what's coming out of Wolfsburg. Schäfer claims the electric Golf won't debut until close to the end of the decade, but it will be the forerunner for a 'whole group' of cars wearing GTI badges. While we're hoping that means something more in the way of a Jetta GTI than an ID.4 GTI, we don't have any other information right now. The current Golf's lifecycle will run until 2028 or 2029. VW ID GTI Concept VW ID GTI Concept Final thoughts Electric cars can be fun, and the GTI is a natural fit for electrification. It all comes down to implementation, though, as the feel has almost always been the reason shoppers end up in the driver's seat of a GTI as opposed to any other hot hatch. From the tartan/plaid seats to the iconic gear selector, there is no shortage of things besides the powertrain that make a GTI decidedly 'fun.' It's good news that the CEO of VW is excited about the new GTI; we just hope the small details don't get missed.
Auto Express
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it's a 'monster'
The first all-electric Volkswagen Golf GTI is under development – and VW CEO Thomas Schäfer promises 'it'll be a monster car'. VW will keep updating the current Golf until the end of the decade, at which point a pure electric version will come into play, based on the VW Group's all-new SSP architecture. And with zero margin for error on such an iconic halo car, conceptual work is well and truly underway to electrify the original GTI. 'At the end of the decade we will bring an electric Golf [GTI], and that will be a monster car,' said Schäfer. 'I'm very happy with the progress. It's cool. You can make it exciting, it has to be exciting, it has to be authentic. If we bring a GTI, it has to be a [true] GTI.' The headline news is that the GTI will be front-wheel drive, despite its closest electric sibling – the ID.3 GTX – having a 322bhp motor driving the rear wheels. That's around 80bhp more than today's 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol GTI, but it's possible that the e-GTI will match its stepchange in power, because of an electric motor's ability to precisely control the amount of torque to each front wheel. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The first electric Golf R – also in the plan according to Schäfer – will have the headroom to come with another power leap, because it sticks to the R concept of sending power to all four wheels. The ID.2 GTI – already shown in concept form – will set the benchmark for the new hot Golf, Schäfer said. 'We'll bring through a whole group of GTI, starting with the ID.2 GTI which is the first one coming electrically. When we started this journey, [we told the] the development teams 'we've got to be proud of the GTI of the future', and the team's taking that on.' The brand boss has already hot-lapped the upcoming GTI, expected to hit the market in 2026. 'We've driven a few prototypes on the new set-up, and it's mind blowing. What about the sound? What about the total feel, the handling and so on. It can be done.' Schäfer wouldn't be drawn on whether the GTI would emulate Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N with its simulated gearshifts and soundtrack. It also has a drift mode, electronic playthings that are more the natural preserve of the more hardcore Golf R electric. He did namecheck the GTi suspension, which is sure to deliver the trademark blend of ride comfort and eager turn-in. 'Can you make an electric Golf exciting? Absolutely,' he promised. Digital work on the new Golf package is shaping up, before the car moves into the physical prototype stage. 'We know what the vehicle looks like and [can] sit virtually in the vehicle,' said Schafer. 'The dimensions of the platform and the vehicle is clear, though it's not [fine-tuned] to the last design detail. We have many iteration steps to get through.' Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The SSP underpinnings will be a gamechanger for Volkswagen Group, with all electric cars from Skoda and VW all the way up to Lamborghini and Bentley tapping into the hardware and software modules it introduces. But iterations will be broken down according to vehicle size and cost. 'It's going to be really scalable,' the boss told Auto Express on the fringe of the FT's Future of the Car summit. 'We have certain sizes according to the vehicle, but still the same modules of the key components that can be used across [SSP], so you have the maximum scaling effect, also in purchasing power.' And what's Thomas Schäfer's favourite GTI of all time? 'I think the first one is the most exciting one, because it came out of nowhere and was a total gamechanger. What started as an experiment [became] a trend and stuff like that is legendary.' The first Golf GTI made 108bhp from its 1.6-litre, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder engine. That'll be a world apart from the first all-electric, 300bhp-plus Golf GTI arriving some 54 years later – but hopefully its core DNA will be very much intact. Would you buy an all-electric Volkswagen Golf GTI? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section... Find a car with the experts EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs Running costs for car share club EVs are £6k higher than ICE equivalents according to new data Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
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 5 5 5 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 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 5
Motor 1
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Volkswagen Could Launch an Electric GTI Next Year
Volkswagen entered the electric hot hatch niche about a year ago with the launch of the ID.3 GTX. However, it's now apparently working on an even spicier version carrying a far more iconic badge: GTI. Much like Porsche's electric Turbo models lack actual turbochargers, the ID.3 Grand Touring Injection will obviously not have fuel injectors. And while traditional GTIs are front-wheel drive, the ID.3 GTI will be rear-wheel drive. So much for tradition. A new report from German magazine Auto Motor und Sport claims that the inaugural electric GTI will receive a modest power bump over the GTX. It's believed the zero-emissions GTI will deliver 335 hp, or just 13 hp more than the current flagship version. Rumor has it VW's engineers are planning significant updates to the chassis, steering, and suspension to make the ID.3 GTI more engaging to drive than the GTX. According to AMS , the electric GTI wasn't part of the original plan. However, VW is now purportedly giving the ID.3 a second facelift to extend its life cycle. The reasoning behind this decision reportedly stems from the delay of its successor, the ninth-generation, electric-only Golf. Now due near the end of the decade, the Golf Mk9's postponement means the aging ID.3 will stick around longer than expected. Indeed, the ID.3 debuted back in 2019 and received an update in 2023. To keep the EV competitive, a second, more comprehensive facelift is allegedly set for 2026, coinciding with the launch of the hotter GTI version. This update will reportedly bring the ID.3's design and tech more in line with the smaller ID.2. Speaking of which, the ID.2 GTI concept (pictured below) previewed VW's first electric car with a GTI badge. However, it appears the larger ID.3 GTI will beat it to market. The standard ID.2 is scheduled to go on sale next year in Germany with a base price around €25,000, but the GTI version will, of course, cost more. As for the ID.3 GTI, expect it to carry a premium over the current GTX, which starts at just over €47,000 at home in Deutschland. Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept 44 Several other models have already received the GTX treatment in Europe. The ID.7 and ID.7 Tourer have performance variants , and even the ID. Buzz GTX minivan. It remains unclear whether the GTX branding will eventually be phased out in favor of the GTI name for potent EVs or if it will continue as a more affordable alternative. We'll have to wait and see if VW will also put an R badge on its electric cars. If it's determined to launch an EV GTI, possibly with a new GTI logo where the "I" makes way for a lightning bolt, it likely doesn't have a problem introducing an EV R some years from now. Catch Up With VW: Volkswagen Is Making Less Money Because It's Selling More EVs Volkswagen Could Give Ford More Reskinned Cars Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Auto Motor and Sport Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
