Volkswagen ID.3 GTI becomes the most powerful GTI ever made
By Anthony Sharkey, Chief Operating Officer, New Reg Limited
Volkswagen has revealed the facelifted ID.3 GTI, an electric hot hatch that carries more power than any GTI model the brand has previously produced.
Volkswagen has confirmed that the facelifted ID.3 GTI is the most powerful car to ever wear the GTI name, and it also marks the first time the badge has appeared on a rear-wheel-drive model, according to multiple reports.
The ID.3 GTI carries over the 322 horsepower output that was previously found in the ID.3 GTX, with Volkswagen now repositioning that powertrain under the GTI label as part of a revised lineup. That shift means the GTX designation steps aside in favour of the more emotionally loaded GTI name, which has defined the brand's performance identity for decades.
Alongside the power figures, the new model brings design cues drawn from the ID. Polo GTI and introduces a dedicated GTI driving mode intended to sharpen the car's character behind the wheel. The rear-wheel-drive layout is a deliberate departure for the GTI lineage, which has historically been associated with front-wheel-drive hatchbacks.
With the model slated for 2026, the ID.3 GTI represents a significant moment for Volkswagen's electric performance ambitions, applying one of the most recognised names in hot hatch history to a fully electric platform for the first time at this power level.