Volkswagen recently launched the new Volkswagen ID.3 GTI, which stands out as the first vehicle to incorporate the sporty designation with rear-wheel drive in five decades of its history. This electric hatchback offers 326 hp and 55.6 kgfm of torque, making it the most powerful production GTI ever developed by the manufacturer.
It is important to note that this change does not represent a fundamental sporting shift, as the ID.3 has always maintained the engine positioned over the rear axle since its launch in 2019; the GTI version simply inherited this configuration. Historically, all GTI models, starting from the 1976 Golf, used front-wheel drive, which includes the ID. Polo GTI, the brand's first electric model to use the nomenclature, presented in May of this year, which keeps the front wheels responsible for propulsion.
Although the ID.3 GTI is cited as the most powerful GTI in history, this title requires a caveat. The Golf GTI Edition 50, scheduled for 2025 to celebrate the half-century of the badge, has a declared power of 325 hp, giving the electric model an advantage of only 1 hp. Nevertheless, the ID.3 GTI reaches 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, while the combustion Golf takes 5.3 seconds. Its top speed is electronically limited to 200 km/h, and the total vehicle weight is estimated at approximately two tons.
The ID.3 GTI replaces the ID.3 GTX Performance, reusing almost all of its original mechanics. It uses the same APP550 engine on the rear axle, the same 79 kWh net battery, and maintains the declared range of up to 601 km in the WLTP cycle. The name change reflects Volkswagen's decision to discontinue the GTX label and centralize electric sports versions under the GTI and R designations.
In a direct comparison, the new model achieves a tenth improvement in acceleration, thanks to the inclusion of launch control as standard equipment. However, it presents a disadvantage in the recharging process. The maximum DC power decreased from 185 kW to 183 kW, and the time required to charge from 10% to 80% of the battery increased from about 26 to 29 minutes. The vehicle comes equipped with adaptive DCC sport suspension and progressive steering as standard. Sales prices have not yet been announced. Previously, the ID.3 GTX Performance was sold in Germany for 52,295 euros, which is equivalent to approximately R$ 310 thousand at the current exchange rate. It is worth mentioning that the ID.3 was never made available for sale in Brazil.