322-Horsepower Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is Another Electric GTI Preview
Following the ID. GTI Concept that we saw at the IAA in Munich last summer, Volkswagen today unveiled the new ID.3 GTX as another preview of the electric Golf GTI that’s set to hit the market later this decade.
The sporty variant of the battery-powered hatchback that we can’t have in Canada will be available in base and Performance trim, each one with rear-wheel drive. Output is rated at 282 horsepower and 322 horsepower, respectively, along with 402 lb-ft of torque.
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The gas-burning, FWD-only Golf GTI, remember, will deliver 262 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque as a result of its 2025 mid-cycle update. The 322 horsepower of the ID.3 GTX Performance even trump the Golf R’s 315 horsepower. Volkswagen claims that acceleration from 0-100 km/h is achieved in 6.0 seconds or 5.6 seconds depending on the model, which is disappointingly slower in both cases. Blame the extra weight.
Engineers have also made adjustments to the suspension and steering for better handling and precision. The ID.3 GTX Performance even gets DCC adaptive chassis control with four unique drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual). Meanwhile, the new 79kWh battery feeding the electric motor is said to provide a range of around 600 km based on the WLTP standard that the Europeans use, which sounds pretty optimistic.
As for styling, the GTX treatment gives the ID.3 a new black air intake in a diamond-style design on the front bumper, lower body accents in a high-gloss black finish (including the rear diffuser) and new 20-inch wheels on wider tires.
The interior stands out with premium sport seats in a mix of recycled fabric and leatherette, red contrast stitching and model-specific instruments. The 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen offers ChatGPT functionality as part of the onboard IDA voice assistant.
The electric Volkswagen Golf GTI or ID. GTI, whatever it’s called, is expected to go on sale in Canada around 2027.