Volkswagen Unveils Most Powerful GTI Ever With Electric ID.3

Volkswagen has unveiled the ID.3 GTI, its most powerful production GTI model to date and the first in the nameplate's history to feature rear-wheel drive. The electric hot hatch, announced on September 16, 2026, replaces the discontinued ID.3 GTX and is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in the spring of 2027. The ID.3 GTI is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor producing 322 horsepower (326 PS) and 402 lb-ft (545 Nm) of torque. This output makes it marginally more powerful than the petrol-powered Golf GTI Edition 50, which was released to mark the 50th anniversary of the GTI badge. The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.6 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). The car is based on Volkswagen's MEB platform, which is rear-wheel-drive biased, distinguishing it from the newer front-wheel-drive architecture used for the ID. Polo GTI. It draws energy from a 79 kWh battery, with an official WLTP driving range estimated at up to 373 miles (601 km). Peak DC charging power is 183 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% charge in approximately 29 minutes. A new GTI driving mode is activated by a dedicated button on the steering wheel.