VW's Electric GTI Will Be More Exciting Than Gas GTIs, Exec Says

In spite of the slower pace of electrification efforts across the automotive world, Volkswagen still appears to be on track to launch its electrified replacement of the iconic Golf GTI — and higher-ups at Volkswagen are making some big claims about the driving dynamics of the forthcoming battery-powered hot hatch. Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Thomas Schäfer, for example, is claiming that an EV GTI will be even better than its legendary predecessor.

Schäfer said that the electric GTI will have an even greater degree of chassis refinement and suspension tuning than the gasoline version, in an interview with Motor 1 Italy. The result will be a GTI that is "even more exciting to experience and drive," Schäfer said.

Our only glimpse at the electric future of the GTI has been the ID.GTI Concept, first revealed at the 2023 IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Germany. Notably, the concept was not based on an electric Golf platform (which is currently available for the European market), instead using the upcoming ID.2 platform. Power figures and suspension details for the ID.GTI concept weren't revealed, but VW did spill its battery capacities: a choice of 38-kWh and 56-kWh battery packs. The ID.GTI concept was rumored to have over 220 hp, putting it in line with the gas-powered GTI currently on sale.

Volkswagen has made significant adjustments to the 8th generation GTI for 2024, as the brand celebrates 50 years of the Golf platform. However, American buyers aren't as lucky as other markets, as we aren't getting the recent addition of the hot Golf GTI Clubsport model. In addition, VW has yet to confirm if the electrified GTI — in whatever form it debuts — will make its way Stateside.

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