WOLFSBURG (September 16, 2026) – In the 50th year of GTI history, Volkswagen today unveiled the ID.3 GTI in a world premiere. Shown as a near-production concept, it is the most powerful GTI ever built in series production and the nameplate’s first fully electric model. Pre-sales begin in Germany in early 2027; U.S. specification and pricing have not yet been confirmed.

The ID.3 GTI’s electric drive motor delivers 240 kW (322 hp) to the rear axle, with a maximum torque of 402 lb-ft available from a standstill. Volkswagen forecasts 0–62 mph in 5.6 seconds, aided by standard Launch Control, with top speed electronically limited to 124 mph. The car is also rated for a forecast range of approximately 373 miles on a single charge. Combined with the DCC adaptive sports chassis and a low center of gravity, Volkswagen says the result is “a new, pure and dynamic GTI experience.”

Power comes from a 79 kWh (net) lithium-ion battery. Using DC rapid charging at up to 183 kW, the ID.3 GTI can charge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 29 minutes.

Design draws directly on GTI history. The ID.3 GTI’s front end carries the red stripe first introduced on the 1976 Golf GTI’s radiator grille, now positioned above standard IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights and a lit VW logo strip. New vertical LED elements in the bumper identify the car specifically as the electric GTI, while a high-gloss black honeycomb grille — repurposed to cool the cabin and battery system rather than an engine — carries red accents echoing the front splitter. Standard 20″ “Wörthersee” wheels reference the annual GTI enthusiast meet in Austria. Unlike the outgoing ID.3 GTX, which paired a black roof, spoiler, and tailgate with body-color panels, the ID.3 GTI finishes those elements in body color, giving the car a longer, lower profile.

Five colors will be offered at launch: Tornado Red solid, Moonstone Grey solid, Scale Silver metallic, Grenadilla Black metallic, and Glacier White metallic. Tornado Red (code LY3D), first offered on the facelifted first-generation Golf GTI, is considered a signature GTI color.

Interior and GTI Mode. The cabin follows a red-on-black scheme, with a red stripe spanning the dashboard, a red marking at the 12 o’clock position of the multi-function sport steering wheel, and premium sport seats trimmed in a Superclark pattern that reinterprets the tartan check of the original 1976 Golf GTI seats. A dedicated GTI button on the steering wheel activates GTI Mode, joining the standard Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual driving profiles. Engaging GTI Mode sets drive and chassis parameters to their sportiest settings, arms Launch Control, switches ambient lighting and ID.Light to red, reconfigures the Digital Cockpit around a central power/speed display, and adds a synthesized engine sound. The cabin also carries over the redesigned ID.3 Neo interior, including a larger Digital Cockpit, a 12.9″ Innovision touch display, restored physical climate controls, and a rotary volume/track-skip knob.

Equipment and driver assistance. Optional equipment available on the ID.3 Neo will also be offered on the ID.3 GTI, including a panoramic sunroof, massage and memory function for the front seats, a 480-watt Harman Kardon sound system, an augmented-reality head-up display, and a removable bicycle-carrier bracket rated for a 165-lb. drawbar load. A new vehicle-to-load PowerSocket adapter allows the ID.3 GTI to power or charge external devices. Available driver-assistance features include a memory function for Park Assist Pro and the latest generation of Travel Assist, which for the first time can detect red traffic lights and bring the vehicle to a stop within system limits.

Figures for range, acceleration, and charging are Volkswagen’s forecast values for a near-production concept vehicle, converted from the manufacturer’s metric specifications and subject to change ahead of final certification. Equipment specifications refer to the German market; availability may differ in other markets, including the U.S.