Volkswagen's ID. GTI: A Nostalgic Trip Down Electric Avenue

Cue dramatic gasp - Volkswagen's doing the electric dance, and they're doing it with flair. Remember the Golf GTI? That tiny racer that became an icon for teenagers and grannies alike? Say hello to its electrified successor, the ID. GTI. Well, not just yet. It’s still in the oven and won't be out until, oh, 2027.

That’s two zero two seven - 2027. Because nothing says "innovation" like giving everyone a solid 4-year heads-up. 

Now, unveiled at the grand spectacle that is the 2023 IAA Munich motor show, this front-wheel drive spark plug (pun intended) is poised to be the crown jewel of Volkswagen's electric brigade. Sporting a front-mounted electric motor and a sporty suspension, it's like the classic GTI dressed up for a future we aren't quite sure we asked for. The price? An estimated $32,159 (€30,000). Or roughly the cost of 6,000 pumpkin spice lattes.

Mr. Thomas Schäfer, VW's grandmaster, made it abundantly clear: electric is the way to go. And he's keen on ensuring the iconic GTI badge lives on, albeit with a bit of a modern jolt. “Iconic names, meet iconic technology,” he might have whispered to himself. 

And for those of you gearheads with racing flags in your hearts, yes, the GTI tag is for the front-drive fun machines. The GTX is for those who want power on all fours, and the 'R' badge? That's for the EVs that can outrun lightning (not really, but it sounded cool).

As for the ID. GTI's bones, it sits on the shortened MEB platform. The same underpinnings as the VW ID. 2. And if whispers are to be believed, there's a “large” battery inside. Perhaps the 56kWh pack that will also energize the ID. 2. But, VW being VW, is holding those performance cards tight. Like a magician with his final trick. 

Yet, there's some tea to spill. The ID. GTI is being brewed alongside the Cupra Raval. And if that's anything to go by, with its 226 horses, a sprint to 62 mph in just under 7 seconds, and a range of a whopping 273 miles, competitors might want to step up their game.

Visually, it's a throwback. An ode to the past. From the deeper front bumper, vertically placed LED lights, to the iconic honeycomb detailing - it's a blend of the past and a not-so-distant electric future. The lit VW badges, both front and back, make for quite the nighttime show. And the 20-inch double eight-spoke wheels? Pure retro bliss.

It's all very promising, isn't it? But, with four long years until its debut, one can't help but wonder if VW is simply fashionably late or disastrously delayed. Four years in EV years is like waiting for a decade in the regular car world. So, the question remains: Is Volkswagen's ID. GTI going to be the next big thing or just another "remember when"?

Yours truly,

Captain Electro