The electric hot hatch is here: VW will electrify the GTI
VW has shown an electric version of its classic GTI hot hatch. It’s just a concept so far, but VW says the all-electric ID. GTI is planned for eventual production.
The electric VW ID. GTI concept was unveiled today in advance of the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany.
The original Golf GTI, released in 1976, was the first VW to use fuel injection, thus the model name which stands for Grand Touring Injection. VW expanded the GTI designation to other performance-oriented models, and the VW Golf GTI has been popular as an affordable but quick hot hatch, defining the segment.
So lending this designation to a future electric model is a big deal, showing that VW thinks the coming electric ID. GTI will be worthy of that heritage (especially since it said it wouldn’t use the GTI designation for the ID.3 hot hatch version).
VW said that the new ID. GTI will use this classic naming convention, despite the lack of a fuel injection system, replacing “injection” with “intelligence.” The “I’ now stands for “intelligent thinking in the sports-car world,” says VW.
The ID. GTI concept is based on the ID. 2all, a small and inexpensive electric hatchback. The 2all is expected to start under 25,000 Euros (~$27k USD), but VW doesn’t have a price yet for the ID. GTI. We’re sure it will be more, but if it’s starting from an inexpensive platform to begin with, that’s a good sign.
Other than that, we don’t have a lot of specs. It’s an inch taller than the Golf GTI, two inches wider, and seven inches shorter in length (though with just 1 inch shorter wheelbase). Due to this shorter length, it has slightly less rear cargo space than the Golf GTI, but more cargo space with the seats folded down, and it sits on slightly larger tires and wheels. And those are about all the specs that VW shared – nothing powertrain-related, yet.
We do know that the ID. GTI concept is planned to be front-wheel drive, like the 2all is. And it will have what VW is calling “GTI Experience Control,” a new system that VW says will allow drivers to adjust various aspects of vehicle dynamics. This includes adding sounds and simulated shift points – allowing you to pretend that your car is running on a noisy gas engine with a narrow power band instead of a superior electric one, if that takes your fancy for some weird reason.
The exterior has various sport-oriented touches, like a spoiler and big rear diffuser, front tow hooks, and black side skirts.
While it’s only a concept, everything about the exterior looks pretty realistic. We can imagine the final version will look somewhat like this.
On the interior, however, things get a little different. VW says it wants to incorporate an extensive augmented-reality heads-up display.
VW hasn’t released photos of this interior, but has released concept renderings of it. It looks quite futuristic – perhaps excessively so.
But then, these are renders, so who knows what the real thing will look like. We can imagine the sport seats and 12.9-inch touchscreen display will make it to production, and perhaps some sort of HUD, but maybe a little less extreme than these concept drawings suggest.
VW has said that “the decision has been taken that [the ID. GTI] will go into production,” but so far we have no date for when this will happen. The concept looks fairly far along, in terms of external design, but the interior is obviously not finished, nor can the powertrain be finished since we have no details on it (other than that the battery with be low-slung in the vehicle, helping lower the center of gravity, as has become the standard in EVs). So we don’t know when to expect it, but it will happen, eventually, says VW.
Electrek’s Take
We were all pretty excited when we saw this hit the newsroom, especially with this year’s proliferation of gigantic 3-row electric land yachts which seem to be taking the place of anything reasonably-sized. It’s nice to see a company offering something in the opposite direction, and especially in a segment, hot hatches, that is renowned by enthusiasts for offering little compromise between fun and practicality.
A few years ago Mercedes announced an electric EQA hot hatch, but later stole the EQA name and gave it to yet another bland crossover SUV that looks like literally every other car on the road, and we’ve heard nothing more about the awesome electric hot hatch concept. As you can tell, we’re still miffed about that.
So here’s a chance to get a real electric hot hatch, from the brand that defines the segment, at what seems like it might be a reasonable price, and with a production commitment – but with an unspecified date, and few details otherwise.
It’s good news on balance, and we can’t wait to hear more. As long as this one doesn’t go the way of the EQA.
Though I will say that one odd thing about this is the front-wheel drive layout. Many hot hatches use front-wheel drive, but this is because a gas engine can go under the hood and drive the front wheels, meaning no need for a driveshaft to transfer torque to the rear wheels, saving space and complexity in a small vehicle.
With an electric car, smaller electric motors can be put anywhere, and a driveshaft isn’t necessary. So a rear- or all-wheel drive version would be quite easy to do, and would give performance benefits as well (driving the rear wheels makes a car quicker, because weight transfers to the rear under acceleration).
Front-wheel drive has benefits for less-experienced drivers and in low-traction scenarios, but for a performance-oriented enthusiast vehicle like the GTI, we’d love to see rear- or all-wheel drive options at some point.
But there’s still time to go before this car hits the road, and we don’t really know any specs yet, so maybe this is in the plans. We’re certainly looking forward to hearing more about this, because we need some more fun, affordable hatchback EVs, especially with the Bolt EV going out of production this year (though Chevy says it will come back eventually).
What do you think of the GTI concept? Let us know in the comments.
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Electricity demand is skyrocketing across the Middle East and North Africa, and it’s being driven by two big factors: cooling homes and businesses in extreme heat, and making seawater drinkable through desalination. A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows just how dramatic the surge is. Electricity use in the region has tripled since 2000, and it’s expected to jump another 50% by 2035. That’s like adding the current combined electricity demand of Germany and Spain.
Cooling and desalination alone are expected to account for about 40% of that growth over the next decade. Urbanization, industrialization, the electrification of transport, and the boom in data centers are also adding to the load, according to the IEA’s report, “The Future of Electricity in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Right now, natural gas and oil overwhelmingly dominate power generation in the region, making up more than 90% of electricity supply. But that mix is changing. Many countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq, are trying to reduce oil-fired power to free it up for export. The IEA says natural gas will likely cover half the demand growth through 2035, with oil’s share falling from 20% today to just 5%.
Renewables are on the rise, too. Solar capacity is set to increase tenfold by 2035, growing by 200 gigawatts (GW), which would boost renewables’ share of the electricity mix to around 25%, up from 6% in 2024. Nuclear power is also expected to triple over the same period.
“Demand for electricity is surging across the Middle East and North Africa, driven by the rapidly rising need for air conditioning and water desalination in a heat- and water-stressed region with growing populations and economies,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. “To meet this demand, power capacity over the next 10 years is set to expand by over 300 GW, the equivalent of three times Saudi Arabia’s current total generation capacity.”
Meeting that demand won’t come cheap. Investment in the power sector hit $44 billion in 2024, and it’s projected to grow another 50% by 2035. Nearly 40% of that spending is expected to go toward upgrading grids, which currently suffer losses that are double the global average.
The IEA says grid upgrades and stronger regional interconnections will be critical for electricity security. Balancing renewables will also require more energy storage, demand-side flexibility, and enough gas-fired plants to cover when solar and wind aren’t available.
Energy efficiency improvements could ease some of the strain. For example, air conditioners in the region are less than half as efficient as those in Japan. Upgrading the ACs alone could cut peak demand growth by an amount equal to Iraq’s entire current power capacity.
If countries move more slowly on diversifying their power mix, according to the report, the stakes are high. Carbon dioxide emissions would continue to rise, and oil and gas demand for electricity could increase by more than a quarter by 2035, cutting export revenues by $80 billion and raising import bills by $20 billion.
Read more: 1 in 4 cars sold in 2025 will be EVs, and that’s just the beginning
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Is it just me, or do too many new vehicles look about the same? Hyundai believes it’s time to end a popular trend that nearly every EV has nowadays.
Hyundai looks past the LED lightbar for new EV design
The LED light bar has been around for a while. In the early 2000’s Xenon headlights were the hit trend, offering much brighter light while consuming less energy.
Although it was initially mainly found on luxury vehicles, Hyundai was one of the first to jump on the trend, working to make it more widely available at a lower cost.
Over the past few years, the trend has evolved into a thin LED light strip stretched across the front and sometimes the rear of the vehicle.
Since most brands are slapping it on electric vehicles, it’s become almost a status symbol of the EV movement. In early 2023, Hyundai revealed the new “EV-derived, futuristic” design for the Kona Electric, placing a heavy emphasis on the front LED lightbar.
Nowadays, nearly every vehicle, EV or gas-powered, has the popular design feature. Even Tesla hopped on the trend with the new Model Y, Model 3, and Cybertruck.
According to Hyundai’s design boss, Simon Loasby, LED lightbars are “almost at the end of their journey.” After unveiling the new Concept Three at the Munich Motor Show last week, Loasby explained to Car Magazine on the sidelines, “When is the time you need to let go [of light bars], it’s almost like the end of that.”
Although Hyundai recently added the lightbar to the Grandeur, Kona, and Sonata, Loasby said he’s “seen enough.”
“It worked at the time, and it was absolutely right, the Grandeur was the first car with a one-piece structure. The biggest thing is the cost level, you just can’t afford to do it and some customers don’t need it,” Hyundai’s design chief explained.
In China, “you must have it,” Loasby said, but in other markets, like Europe and the US, it’s not needed. Hyundai is instead focusing on differentiating itself with its unique pixel lightning, found on the IONIQ EV models.
Hyundai has already had a few copy its design, notably the Fiat Grande Panda, which Loasby joked, “thanks for copying, thanks for being inspired by us.”
It may be time for a shake-up. Loasby said, “I think we are almost at the end of journey in terms of lighting. It’s almost like chrome.”
Hyundai’s new Concept Three, which is expected to launch as the IONIQ 3 in production form, did not feature a full LED lightbar. Instead, it had an updated pixel lightning design.
Electrek’s Take
I have to agree with Loasby on this one. I must admit that at first, I was a fan of the sleek look of a nice, slim lightbar, especially at night.
The more I see it, the more it reminds me of a Toyota now. And that’s nothing against them (It is the world’s largest automaker), but should a Tesla Model Y, or even a Porsche 911, look the same as a Toyota from the front? I’ll let you determine that one.
I drive a 2023 Tesla Model 3, the last of the pre-facelift version, and was pretty bummed to see how cool the updated Model 3 looked at first. The more I see them, though, the more I like the design of the first-gen Model 3 and its wide eyes. It’s unique. Now, the Model 3 looks like any other vehicle, at least, in my opinion.
Is it time to put an end to the LED lightbar? Let us know how you feel about it below.
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Zero 60, an EV charge point operator on the ChargePoint network, is bringing fast charging to a Culver’s in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The company, founded by Faith Technologies Incorporated (FTI), will install a renewable-powered charging station in Rhinelander.
The new site sits along a state-designated Alternative Fuel Corridor at Culver’s on 620 W. Kemp St. It will feature four 160-kilowatt charging ports, giving EV drivers in northern Wisconsin reliable fast charging well beyond the state’s urban hubs.
The project is backed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s first round of funding from the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) program. Wisconsin wants to ensure EV drivers can confidently travel north, knowing they won’t be stranded without chargers.
“Partnering with a well-known brand like Culver’s gives us a unique opportunity to combine Midwest hospitality with clean, convenient charging,” said Wade Leipold, executive vice president of FTI. “We’re proud to support Wisconsin’s efforts to build a robust, future-ready charging network that serves communities and travelers alike.”
Zero6 Energy is financing, owning, and operating the station, while FTI is handling the engineering, design, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Zero 60 already operates nine charging sites and has plans for many more across the US, with the first wave of stations installed in New York, California, Colorado, and Wisconsin, and more currently being developed in other states.
Read more: GM, EVgo, and Pilot hit 200+ charging sites across 40 states
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Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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