by Volkswagen is preparing an electric Golf GTI
The legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI, which has become an icon among hot hatches, is now preparing for the electric era. After announcing the development of the ID.3 GTI, company CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed that the electric version of the Golf GTI will hit the market by the end of the decade.
The new model will be built on the SSP platform, but its release won’t happen soon, as the current internal combustion engine (ICE) version will remain in production for several more years. Despite this, the development of the electric GTI is already underway. Schäfer assured that the car will retain the spirit of the classic GTI, including the front-wheel drive that fans have come to love.
“By the end of the decade, we will release an electric Golf GTI, and it will be a monster,” he stated. “I am very pleased with the progress. It will be exciting, authentic. If we make a GTI, it has to be a real GTI.”
Technical features
Although there is no physical prototype yet, the main parameters of the platform have already been defined. However, the design may still change as engineers work on refining the model. The electric GTI, like its predecessors, will feature front-wheel drive, unlike the rear-wheel-drive ID.3 GTX. This could pose a challenge for engineers, as power exceeding 300 hp requires effective traction control.
In addition to the GTI, Volkswagen is also preparing an electric version of the Golf R, which will retain all-wheel drive and even greater power. Thus, the electric future of the Golf promises to be bright and dynamic.
It is clear that Volkswagen is striving to preserve the sporty character of its models even in the electric era. Planned technical solutions, such as front-wheel drive for the GTI and all-wheel drive for the R, indicate that the company does not intend to abandon traditions but rather adapt them to new technologies. This could be an important step for brand enthusiasts who feared losing the “soul” of the electric versions.
