Automobile Desk: 'GTI', which has made its special mark in the automobile world, has now appeared in a new and completely electric avatar. Volkswagen has unveiled the much-hyped ID.3 GTI concept model, which is said to be the most powerful car in the brand's 50-year GTI history. This is the first time that the GTI badge has been shifted from a conventional petrol engine to a completely all-electric platform.
In terms of performance, this new electric hatchback produces a massive power of 321.5 hp and torque of 545 Nm. The company has not only increased the power, but has also made major changes in the driving dynamics of the car. This time the power will go directly to the rear wheels (rear-wheel-drive) in the GTI, which has been front-wheel-drive till now, which gives it excellent grip and sporty handling on the road.
Many special features have been added to it for speed lovers. This car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds. Its top speed has been fixed at 200 km/h, which is electronically limited. For the first time in the mainstream electric GTI segment, it also has a 'Launch Control' feature, which helps the car in giving quick pickup.
For long distance travel, the car gets a large battery pack of 79kWh. Volkswagen claims that this car can give a range of up to 601 kilometers on a single charge. It has a DC fast charging capacity of 183kW, due to which it takes about 29 minutes to charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent.
Talking about the design, despite being electric, the classic look of GTI is clearly visible in it. The trademark red stripe on the front grille, a total of five color options including the signature Tornado Red, 20-inch alloy wheels and vertical LED lights give it a strong look. The interior features tartan patterned seats inspired by the first Golf GTI of 1976. A special 'GTI button' on the steering wheel sets the car's suspension, steering and throttle response to sporty mode with a single touch.
At present, the company has not revealed the prices of ID.3 GTI and it has been introduced in the European market, the pre-sale of which is expected to start in early 2027. Since this is still a production-ready concept model, there may be minor changes in its final specifications. At present, no official confirmation has been given by Volkswagen regarding its launch in the Indian market.
