The Volkswagen Golf GTI marks its 50th anniversary in 2026. While the spotlight is currently on the forthcoming Edition 50 special edition, Volkswagen has revealed that a smaller hot-hatch sibling will also make its debut that year. The ID. Polo GTI, previously expected in 2027, will now arrive in time to celebrate the milestone birthday of its iconic big brother.
The GTI Goes Electric for the First Time
The Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI will be the first-ever electric version of the brand’s legendary performance nameplate. Originally expected to be called the ID.2 and positioned as the e-Golf’s successor, the sporty electric Polo sticks with the front-wheel-drive layout of its GTI predecessors, powered by a single motor producing 223 horsepower. Volkswagen says it has tuned the steering, suspension, and accelerator response to evoke the feel of the original 1976 Euro-market Golf GTI. Additionally, the ID. Polo GTI will feature a front differential lock to deliver the precise, point-and-shoot driving dynamics that enthusiasts have long associated with the GTI.
The ID. Polo GTI will ride on Volkswagen’s “MEB+” platform, an evolution of the modular electric architecture that underpins the current ID lineup. Its software and electrical systems have been streamlined for improved energy efficiency. The 223-hp hot hatch will feature a 52‑kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, offering an estimated range of around 275 miles. More affordable ID. Polo models—and the ID. Cross variant—will come with a smaller 37‑kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, delivering a likely range closer to 180–200 miles.
The 2027 Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI is expected to make its first public, uncamouflaged appearance this summer, with the final production model arriving at European dealerships a few months later. While official pricing hasn’t been announced, estimates suggest the base ID. Polo will start at roughly $28,000, with the ID. Polo GTI likely commanding around $35,000.
Paying Homage to the Original
Although it didn’t reach the U.S. until the 1983 model year—badged as the Rabbit—the original Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 debuted in Germany in the fall of 1976, exactly 50 years before the planned arrival of the ID. Polo GTI. The first GTI, carrying the iconic “Grand Tourer Injection” badge, rode on a 94.5-inch wheelbase, measured 64.2 inches wide and 150.2 inches long, produced 108 hp, and weighed less than 2,000 pounds.
Although the ID. Polo GTI delivers twice the power of its predecessor, it retains a compact footprint reminiscent of the original Golf GTI. With a 102.4-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 159.6 inches, and a width of 71.5 inches, it is less than 10 inches larger in any dimension than the original Golf/Rabbit GTI. Its wheels-to-the-corners stance should help preserve the playful handling of its forebear, potentially allowing the electric “Grand Tourer Intelligent” to lift an inside rear wheel through tight corners.
Performance should be lively, thanks to instant electric torque and a relatively light curb weight. While the current Volkswagen ID.3 GTX tips the scales at 4,200 pounds, the smaller ID. Polo GTI is expected to shed at least 500 pounds.
As for a U.S. arrival, that will largely depend on Volkswagen’s electric vehicle sales over the next few years. With the automaker temporarily pausing the $60,000-plus ID. Buzz for the 2026 model year, enthusiasts are hopeful that Volkswagen will consider bringing more affordable—but equally engaging—EVs to the American market sooner rather than later.
